Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackson Winum.
Hi Jackson, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story began in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Fresh out of high school, and with dreams of seeing the world, I enlisted in the United States Air Force. For the next four years, I served as an active duty firefighter at an air base in North Dakota. While it wasn’t exactly the global adventure I envisioned, those years were invaluable. I gained a ton of experience, learned a lot about myself, and made lifelong friendships. Education has always been a priority for me, so alongside my required training, I spent evenings and weekends earning a degree from the Community College of the Air Force.
After my enlistment, I was eager to continue my education and return to the South. I applied to several SEC schools, ultimately choosing The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Something about Tennessee — its southern charm, the landscape, the people, the music — it just felt like home. My plan was to complete my degree in two years and work in the intelligence community, so I majored in political science with a concentration in international relations, even dabbling in Russian (though my knowledge extends little beyond “Excuse me, do you speak English?”). My final semester was spent abroad in London, interning at the Institute of Economic Affairs, a free-market think tank. I immersed myself in British politics and culture, and honestly, had a fantastic time.
However, life has a way of throwing curveballs. That year brought some personal and professional shifts that led me to re-evaluate my goals and aspirations. My desire to go back to work for the government had waned. So, after wrapping up my internship and heading back across the pond, I did what many UT grads do: I moved to Nashville.
My first post-grad job was at a startup tech company, a business solution designed to help farmers grown and manage their direct-to-consumer sales. Though my time there was brief, it truly ignited a spark within me. I was suddenly surrounded by incredibly hardworking, driven, and innovative people — true self-starters, not just my colleagues, but particularly the farmers we worked with. The sense of joy and satisfaction that comes from building something from the ground up, working for yourself, and being deeply involved in your community — it’s truly contagious.
One of those self-starters would later become my business partner, Cole Koeberer. Cole and I started as colleagues, then became friends, roommates, and eventually business partners. When we met, he already had a mobile bartending service gaining traction, but it was his idea to start a canned cold brew company that truly piqued my interest. What began as late-night discussions, bouncing ideas off of one another, and coffee sampling in our kitchen quickly evolved into serious conversations about a partnership, running a company together, and ultimately, quitting my day job to go all-in and join him.
And that’s exactly what we did. After countless long days and nights, a mix of good and bad ideas, slammed doors and new opportunities, and plenty of highs and lows, here we are, more than a year later. We’re still a long way from where we want to be, but we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built so far.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing worthwhile ever comes without its share of challenges. After perfecting our recipes, expanding our production capabilities, and hitting every market and event we could in Middle Tennessee, we saw sales almost triple in our first month.
However, that rapid growth also brought a swift realization: our initial production methods, combined with a non-shelf-stable product, simply weren’t scalable. Just as things were starting to take off, we had to make the difficult decision to pause production last fall. Our plan was to use the winter to significantly scale up our production methods and launch shelf-stable canned lattes in early 2025.
Nearly everything that could go wrong seemed to. From coffee prices reaching a 50-year high, to equipment malfunctions, milk shortages, and frustrating production delays, the road was anything but smooth. Despite those challenges, I’m pleased to announce that Blue Hound Brew canned lattes successfully launched in July of 2025!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Blue Hound Brew?
At Blue Hound Brew, our mission is to redefine ready-to-drink coffee. We’re a Nashville-based company specializing in canned cold brew lattes crafted with the best ingredients: 100% organic, pasture-raised milk and specialty-grade coffee. The result is a latte that’s smooth, balanced, and tastes just as delicious as one from your favorite local café.
What truly sets us apart in Nashville is our unique approach. We’re currently the only brand in the city producing canned lattes, and unlike most ready-to-drink options on the market, we use real dairy and maintain a clean label. We’re incredibly proud to offer a clean, organic-dairy option to a category dominated by alt-milk and highly processed products.
Beyond our commitment to quality coffee, we also believe in making a positive impact. We’ve combined our passion for coffee with a deep commitment to giving back to the animal community we love. Blue Hound Brew proudly supports local and regional animal welfare initiatives. So, with every purchase, you’re not just enjoying a premium coffee—you’re also supporting a cause that’s close to our hearts.
What makes you happy?
Happiness, to me, is less about where I am and what I’m doing, and more so about who I’m with. I’m blessed to have an amazing family, support system, and a lot of people get to I call friends. Being with them makes me happy. Oh, and seeing people enjoy our coffee—that makes me really happy too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bluehoundbrew.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluehoundbrew
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackson-winum/
