John Chesney is the Beverage Director for Toasted Hospitality, overseeing beverage programs across six Chicago locations. He also serves as the Chief Whiskey Officer at Slightly Toasted, which was named the 41st Best Whiskey Bar in the US by Whisky Advocate. The venue is home to more than 1,400 whiskey selections, and he has personally selected over 150 barrels of whiskey, including a Double Gold award-winning single barrel from J. Henry & Sons.

A founding member of the Craft Whiskey Collective and co-host of the Key in the Lake Whiskey Podcast, John is a prominent voice in spirits education. He also hosts the VIP experience at Brewzle’s Whiskey Fest. In addition, he is revitalizing “Grommes & Ulrich” and is the founder of Chief Whiskey Officer, an upcoming boutique brand dedicated to storytelling through whiskey.