Kelly Dillinger

I met Kelly through our love of Whiskey. I’m a Garrison fan who lives in Idaho which means distillery releases are out of my reach. In a random Facebook group, Kelly opened the door for engagement about our shared love of Garrison Brothers. After connecting a few more times, I learned that we shared more in common than just a passion for well crafted Bourbon. Turns out, Kelly was retired DEA. Me, I’m a Detective in a small agency in Idaho. We began bonding over law enforcement and how that has shaped our lives. But as the friendship grew, I quickly realized his enthusiasm for helping his community was more than the badge. He spends his off time being “Santa” in the community. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s a Veteran as well. Overall, Kelly is the epitome of self-less sacrifice for his fellow man. He shared whiskey with a stranger, donated his time to bring happiness to families, and risked his life for our country in the military and now on our streets with a badge. I could go on and on, but I can’t think of a better human in this messed up world than Kelly Dillinger. It started with a great whiskey and led to a friendship. It is true, whiskey isn’t about the glass, it’s about the memories made and the friendships created. Kelly will always have a friend in me.