When it comes to distilling, respected distillers can often be heard waxing poetic about the process that goes into crafting their latest innovation. For Travis Barnes, founder and chief executive officer of the Indianapolis-based Hotel Tango Distillery, the discipline in which he employs in developing the company’s lineup of craft spirits harkens back to a previous chapter in his life — when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2002, Barnes was assigned to the First Reconnaissance Battalion, Company A, First Platoon, and deployed to Iraq.
Following three tours in Iraq, Barnes returned to Indiana where he enrolled in law school. It was there that he met his wife, Hilary. However, as he continued his studies, Barnes came to the realization that he didn’t really want to be a lawyer. It was then that Barnes’ natural curiosity led him to his latest venture.