Exploring Bourbon Culture and Emotional Connections

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After 9/11, Travis Barnes enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, driven by duty and purpose. He endured grueling training, served three combat tours in Iraq, and rose to Sergeant in a Recon unit, surviving IEDs and earning multiple commendations. After suffering traumatic brain injury and PTSD, he returned home, went to law school, and found healing through discipline — this time in crafting whiskey. In 2014, alongside his wife Hilary, he founded Hotel Tango, named in honor of their bond and his military roots. For Travis, distilling became a new mission: to create with precision, serve with honor, and lead with purpose.