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When Dr. Joey Kramer moved his practice, Hope Chiropractic, to Southlake, he noticed a lack of social groups specifically for men.
In light of that, he started brainstorming ideas for how to unite men in the community. Joey wasn’t trying to make good networking scenarios; he was simply trying to invite men to converse and bond.
“A good friend of mine, Mo, and I were watching ‘Last Man Standing,’” he recalls. “And we realized that every time two guys have a good conversation, they are doing one of three things: playing golf, smoking cigars or drinking whiskey.”
So, in October 2017, he formed the Distilled Gentlemen, a members-only club for men to socialize over their favorite whiskeys. Soon, the group outgrew Joey’s office and moved to Sotheby’s before finally moving to the Marq.
“We were just looking to get guys together to build friendships and camaraderie and have a positive experience,” Joey says. “The rules were simple: It was $20 at the door, bring your own bottle and we'll have glasses and ice.”
Beyond whiskey and friendship, a pillar of the Distilled Gentlemen is to have a positive impact on the community. For example, when the GRACE food pantry burned down last year, the group raised money to help the local nonprofit.
Most notably, the Distilled Gentlemen presented a $12,750 check for Metroport Meals on Wheels during its annual party last December. The following morning, an anonymous donor matched it. Joey estimates that the group has raised around $30,000 for charity organizations since it started less than two years ago.
Now, with a governing board and about 60 members, the group continues to thrive and give back to the community. Men are encouraged to form friendships and sample varieties of bourbon and beyond. The only thing they can’t do is overindulge or pass out business cards.
"What's neat is now you're providing an avenue for people to go beyond networking and actually meet people,” Joey says.