Founder - Mr Lyan

The world’s most awarded bartender, Ryan has been in the drinks industry for over 20 years. He formed the Mr Lyan world in 2013, leading to critical acclaim through the venues and recognition as one of the world’s foremost pioneers in drinks and hospitality. He has been named International Bartender of the Year, Person of the Decade and The World’s Most Influential Bar Personality amongst many other awards.

Master Distiller - Westland Distillery

A member of Westland’s team since 2013, Tyler Pederson immediately embraced the mission of crafting an American Single Malt Whiskey with a distinct sense of place and applies a holistic approach to whiskey production, as exemplified in his efforts to develop a resilient local grain economy, championing sustainably grown barley crops for enhanced flavor in whiskey production. Drawing upon a deep reverence for the complexity of ecosystems that was fostered while studying ecology at the University of Washington, Tyler has been a constant advocate for sustainability, implementing carbon footprint reduction through process enhancements and innovative technologies such as carbon capture for fermentations. With technical knowledge developed during the pursuit of a Masters of Science in Brewing and Distilling from Heriot-Watt University, Tyler exhibits an unwavering commitment to excellence by pursuing process optimization with meticulous dedication, consistently looking to improve every aspect of production to make compelling whiskeys for the future. He likes his music loud, his whiskey at cask strength, and when he’s not overseeing the distillery at Westland, the snow deep and steep.