Every brand has a future. The discipline is reverse-engineering what gets it there.

I work across beverage, brand, and consumer culture — strategic foresight, full-stack execution, and the relationships to ship work that lasts.

Founding-team architecture for new brands
Operator engagements for brands in growth
Creative direction and advisory for the moments in between

On Engagement

Engagements run typically six to twenty-four months, structured for accountability against outcomes rather than activity. The work is principal-led, not delegated. The roster of relationships is the asset.

The Operator

James G. North — founding-team work on Blackened American Whiskey alongside Metallica and master distiller Dave Pickerell, operator engagements across Lloyd Cellars and Prescription Vineyards, and earlier project work across spirits and consumer brands. Based in California.

Inquiries welcomed →

Selected Work

Brands shaped, built, or scaled.

01 / Founding

Blackened American Whiskey / Atelier HF / Huntedfox / MakerOwner

02 / Operator

Lloyd Cellars / Prescription Vineyards

03 / Project Work

Double Cross Vodka / Absolut / Espolón / Partida / Skyy

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.

— Henry Ford

Blackened · Black Noise process