Behind the Scenes: The New Dawn of Dr. Dawn
Guest post by Dr. Barbara Han (aka the Spicy Ecologist)
I've known Dr. Dawn O'Neal through many stages of her journey—from freshly minted PhD in ecology to director at multiple conservation organizations to founder and owner of New Dawn Distilling. In every interview, she's asked about this unusual path. In today's guest blog post, I'll share what it's like to watch a brilliant scientific mind transform an ancient craft.
What is a PhD in ecology? In the simplest terms, it trains you to advance knowledge about connections—between animals, plants, humans, and the environment. An ecology PhD is a research scientist who studies living organisms and their relationships to each other.
As a professional trained to answer fundamental questions about the connections among life on Earth, Dr. O'Neal brings this expertise to her business and vision for New Dawn Distilling. Dawn understands deeply that without healthy connections, life slowly degrades. For New Dawn, she looks "from grains to glass"—across the entire supply chain—to see how her decisions can strengthen the connections we all depend on to live and thrive.
Watching Dawn apply her ecological background to whiskey production has been fascinating. She considers watershed dynamics for water sourcing, understands how biodiversity creates distinctive flavor profiles, implements climate-smart business practices, and thinks holistically about reducing carbon footprints through local sourcing. Her scientific training enables her to create bourbon that's exceptional in both flavor and environmental consciousness.
When Dawn told me she was starting her own whiskey brand, I had no doubt she would bring her passion for conservation, scientific mind, and ethic of hard work. But I wasn't really a whiskey drinker. When New Dawn's 6-year cask
strength bourbon was finally in my hands, I will admit that I was actually more nervous than excited. Dawn and I have been friends for over 15 years—what if I hated her first offering? I dreaded having to be honest with her if I didn't like it!
I needn't have worried. From countless family dinners and game nights, I knew that Dr. O'Neal has a remarkable palate. She's an amazing cook, an incredible baker, and she has brought her A-game to spirits. The cocktail library she's developed reflects her gourmet soul, while the business she's building embodies her scientific precision and ecological mindfulness.
But perhaps the most telling testament to her success? Her bourbon converted this skeptic into an enthusiast. That transformation mirrors Dawn's own journey—from studying natural systems to creating something that brings people together around a shared experience. New Dawn Distilling is perfectly named—it represents not just the beginning of her bourbon adventure but a new light of scientific approach to a traditional craft. Those initial rays are already bright with awards and recognition, but knowing Dawn, the full daylight of her vision is still to come. And that's something worth raising a glass to.
