Fabulous People: John Mleziva

John Mleziva founded State Line Distillery in 2017, Madison’s first grain-to-glass distillery. “We are committed to using locally-sourced grain and supporting regenerative agriculture to craft spirits that are uniquely Wisconsin.” Learn about John Mleziva…

Follow at: @statelinedistillery

Hometown: Golden Vally, Minnesota

First job: Neighborhood lawn-mowing business

Favorite ways to spend your free time in WI: Biking, running, enjoying a beverage on the Memorial Union with friends. I love to be outside and enjoy all the different and fun things to do in and around Madison.

Your biggest accomplishment and why: Being an active and present father for my two daughters. Above all else, being considered a great father and partner is the most important accomplishment I could ever hope to acheive in life.

The biggest obstacle you overcame: Making it through State Line being shut down for 18 months during the pandemic.

Someone who inspires you and why: My parents are my greatest inspiration. They worked so hard to create a family that served as the foundation of who I am today. Their focus on honestly, kindness, fairness and striving to have empathy have served me well throughout my life. In addition, they have always been supportive of the choices I’ve made and encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when those dreams meant leaving a career path in higher education to move to Scotland to study brewing and distilling.

Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Get industry experience and learn all you can about both the science of distilling and how to run a business. And perhaps even more importantly, surround yourself with people who are better at what they do than you and empower those individuals to help take your idea to the next level.

Favorite quote: “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” –Winston Churchill

Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: That I sing in a professional choir called the Madison Choral Project.

What makes someone fabulous: Someone who is passionate, kind and willing to bring people together in a way that elevates everyone around them.

Photo credit: Ilana Natasha Photography