Consulting
Operator-led advisory for complex businesses in demanding industries.
Jason Barrett has built, scaled, and operated businesses across food, beverage, and specialty manufacturing for over two decades. He works with a small number of clients at a time — and he works alongside you, not above you.
Background
Two decades of building from the ground up.
Jason Barrett is a veteran entrepreneur, Master Distiller, and strategic consultant with more than two decades of experience in the food and beverage industry. As Founder & CEO of Black Button Distilling — Rochester’s first grain-to-glass craft distillery — he scaled the company from startup to $31 million in annual sales in under a decade, building a team of 87 and distributing across 14 states and Japan. The company earned six consecutive Inc. 5000 rankings as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.
A fourth-generation entrepreneur, Jason brings deep experience with multigenerational family business dynamics alongside operational depth across regulated industries. He has served as CEO of The Strategic Sourcing Hub, Treasurer of the Empire Rye Whiskey Association, and spent eight years as President of the ROC/FLX Craft Beverage Trail. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Jason holds advanced credentials as a Master Distiller (USA, 2013), Warden Rectifier (UK, 2017), and Rummelier Level 1 (2024), and completed MBA coursework at George Washington University. He has been recognized by the Rochester Business Journal as a “Forty Under 40” honoree and by Wine & Spirit Education Trust as a Future 50 leader.
His consulting practice is intentionally small. Jason works with a select number of clients at any given time, ensuring that each engagement receives his direct involvement — not a junior team or a playbook. Clients benefit from his personal network of suppliers, compliance experts, finance professionals, and operations personnel built over 20+ years in industry.
He takes on projects where there is a genuine opportunity to move the needle: businesses facing inflection points, growth challenges, regulatory complexity, or operational bottlenecks where an experienced operator’s perspective makes a material difference.
Credentials & Recognition
Master Distiller, USA (2013)
One of a small number of credentialed Master Distillers in the United States.
Warden Rectifier, UK (2017)
UK-recognized credential in distilling, one of the oldest professional designations in the industry.
6× Inc. 5000 Honoree
Six consecutive recognitions as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.
Rochester Business Journal — Forty Under 40
Recognized as one of the region's top young business leaders.
Future 50 — Wine & Spirit Education Trust (2020)
Named among the top 50 emerging leaders in the global wine and spirits industry.
4th Generation Entrepreneur
Deep personal experience with multi-generational family business dynamics and long-term ownership structures.
Selected Engagements
A track record across regulated, growth-stage industries.
Garden Center & Agritourism
Helped an established garden center expand into events, build a social media presence, and successfully navigate the liquor licensing process to unlock a new revenue stream.
Startup Beverage Brand
Partnered with an early-stage beverage company on brand positioning, go-to-market strategy, and operational infrastructure to support a successful market launch.
Distillery Growth & Product Development
Worked with a craft distillery on go-to-market planning and new product development, drawing on deep industry relationships and firsthand experience scaling a spirits brand.
Farm Distillery Launch
Helped a New York farm distillery source dry goods, develop production processes, and train staff on equipment operation to successfully bring a new product line to market.
Work With Jason
Tell Us What You're Building
Jason takes on a limited number of consulting clients. If you have an active project or a specific challenge where his background is relevant, reach out using the form and describe the opportunity.