MEZCAL VAGO · 1 month ago
Research and Development Intern
Bardstown, KY, US
Internship
Onsite
InternMEZCAL VAGO is offering a paid internship as part of Heaven Hill's Summer Internship Program at their Bardstown Bottling Facility. The Research & Development Internship provides hands-on experience in innovation and product development, where interns will contribute to projects involving flavor research, formulation adjustments, and sensory evaluations.
DistilleryFood and BeverageWine And SpiritsWinery
Responsibilities
Support ongoing innovation initiatives, helping explore new liquid ideas, flavor directions, and product concepts aligned with long-term strategic plans
Assist the Innovation Manager with creation of samples for testing, sensory evaluation, and refinement of new or existing formulations
Participate in trend research to understand emerging flavors, consumer preferences, and innovation opportunities within the spirits industry
Contribute to R&D studies including flavor stability, shelf-life evaluation, and ingredient performance assessments
Support the continuation of the geosmin study, helping evaluate methods to reduce or remove geosmin so aging inventory can be preserved
Assist with Program Barrel activities such as filtering, proofing, preparing samples, pouring, and labeling
Gain firsthand experience with batching, blending, and product preparation processes
Learn how to taste, evaluate, and compare spirits across multiple categories
Support sensory panel preparation and documentation as needed
Prepare and present findings and recommendations to internal teams throughout the internship
Deliver a final presentation to the Executive Leadership Team summarizing your project work and key learnings
Participate in developmental workshops, networking opportunities, and cross-functional exposure events
Qualification
Required
Currently a junior or senior pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, Food Science, or related science field
Interested in the spirits industry, product development, and scientific research
Must be at least 21 years old by the start of the internship
Proficient with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
Curious, self-motivated, and comfortable working both independently and collaboratively
Strong attention to detail, organization, and analytical thinking
Benefits
Meaningful experience
Professional development
Cross-functional exposure
Networking opportunities
Facility tours
Intern engagement events
Company
MEZCAL VAGO
Mezcal Vago prepares and sells wines.
Founded in 2012
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageRecent News
Company data provided by crunchbase