Podcast: USMC to Master scotch Distiller

CEO & Founder, Fior Scotch

Born: November 10 (sharing a birthday with the United States Marine Corps)
Birthplace: Forest Hills, New York
Current Residence: Miami, Florida

---

Making History, One Dram at a Time

Eric Dominijanni, EdD, is the visionary founder and CEO of Fior Scotch—the first and only U.S. veteran-owned Scotch and the first and only Black-owned Scotch brand in the world. Launched in 2023, Fior has already achieved what many brands take decades to accomplish, earning prestigious accolades and selling with a growth trajectory.

This isn't just a business venture—it's a historic brand that represents excellence, authenticity, and representation in an industry that has long lacked diversity. Every bottle of Fior tells a story of service, sacrifice, and the pursuit of perfection.

Award-Winning Excellence

Since its launch, Fior Scotch has earned critical acclaim from the industry's most respected competitions:

• Double Gold Medal - San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Double Gold Medal - New York World Spirits Competition
• 93 Rating - The New York International Spirits Competition
• Gold Medal - Santé Magazine
• Platinum Rating - Ascot Awards
• **GOLD medal on MASKED TASTING PR%F awards
• **SILVER medal in the UNMASKED DESIGN competition PR%F awards
• **91 rating Ultimate spirits challenge

Fior is a super-premium, hand-crafted blend of Highland and Speyside Scotches, produced and bottled in small batches in Scotland. Each bottle boasts a high malt-to-grain content of 40%, expertly blended by master blender David Hallgarten, who selects the finest casks for their unique qualities and character.

---

A Classically Trained Chef with an Unlikely Beginning

Eric's relationship with food began in childhood, watching PBS cooking shows religiously while standing on a stool to reach the stove in his Forest Hills, Queens home. "Cooking has always been my life," he says. "I make my own sausage, wine, beer, and ice cream. My kids don't even eat ice cream unless I make it. The kitchen is my church and temple."

His culinary journey is marked by both formal training and real-world triumph, such as being in a few cookbooks:

The Bobby Flay Victory

In 2006, while serving as a Marine Captain in North Carolina, Eric achieved what he calls "probably the greatest thing that could ever happen to me in my life." He competed against celebrity chef Bobby Flay on "Throwdown with Bobby Flay" (Season 1, Episode 5) in a steak cook-off. Eric, known as "Captain D.," was grilling his award-winning steaks as a morale booster for his men when Bobby Flay surprised him with the challenge.

In front of his fellow Marines and with expert judges conducting a blind taste test, Eric defeated the culinary icon. "Not only did I go up against a god, I won," Eric says with characteristic humility.

The Food Network offered him his own primetime show for a few years, and Weber Grills wanted him as a spokesman. But Eric's commitment to his Marines came first. "I can't leave my Marines. I'm about to go to Iraq," he said. "I've been training with these guys. What kind of person would I be if I left?"

Culinary & Academic Credentials

Eric's dedication to education and mastery is evident in his impressive credentials:

• Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Learning Sciences
• Master's Degree in Adult Education
• Bachelor's Degrees from NYU/Mercy College (Pre-Med/Biology Major)
• Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University
• International Culinary Training in the United States, Thailand, and Singapore
• WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 1
• Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS)
• Certified Scotch Professional (CSP)

"I am a trained chef and have been in the kitchen creating happiness since I could reach the stove (on a stool)," Eric reflects. "More than creating a great meal or drink, I love to see the look of enjoyment on a person's face when they taste my carbonara, mead, or now... FIOR!"

---

Twenty Years of Service and Leadership

Eric Dominijanni joined the United States Marine Corps in 1997, serving with extraordinary distinction for 20 years as an Assault Amphibian Officer (specializing in Amphibious Mechanized, Motorized, and Dismounted Infantry). His military career took him across the globe and into some of the most challenging environments:

• Three combat tours in Iraq (including the initial push from Kuwait to Baghdad and service at Camp Fallujah)
• Two deployments to Okinawa, Japan
• Extensive operations throughout the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Asia and Afghanistan
• Retired with the rank of Major in 2017

During his time in Iraq, Eric lived off base in Fallujah, serving as a liaison and training local police forces in one of the war's most volatile regions. His experiences formed deep bonds with his fellow Marines and the people he served alongside, including his translator from Iraq, who later invited Eric to stay with his family—a gesture that speaks to the respect and trust Eric earned.

Growing up in Forest Hills, Queens, Eric was raised with a classical education by his Italian father and Haitian mother. "When my friends were reading comic books, I was reading The Iliad and The Odyssey," he recalls. "Hercules was my Superman; Achilles was my Batman because my mom had a classical education."

Eric immersed himself in ancient history and martial arts, training in judo from age seven. His childhood dream of becoming a knight eventually manifested in his decision to join the Marine Corps—a modern warrior serving with honor and distinction.

---

The Creation Story: From Infinity Bottle to Historic Brand

The Scotch Awakening

Eric's journey to creating Fior Scotch began with a particularly bad drink experience in 2013. Stationed at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California—a desert environment far from the vibrant Caribbean flavors he'd come to love during earlier deployments—Eric was craving something different.

On a weekend trip to visit friends in Los Angeles, Eric asked for a rum drink at what turned out to be a scotch bar. Instead of turning him away, the bartender offered an education. "The bartender started introducing all of these scotches and gave a tutorial about each one of them," Eric remembers. "I left there with a bug."

After moving to Florida in 2014 and retiring from the military in 2017, Eric's scotch collection grew substantial—and expensive. True to his maker's spirit (he had already been creating his own sausage, beer, mead, and ice cream), Eric had an idea: "If I can make my own ice cream and beer, then let me try to make my own scotch."

The Infinity Bottle

Eric began decanting the remaining drams of particularly good scotches from his collection into what would become his "Infinity Bottle"—a practice where whisky enthusiasts blend remnants of different bottles to create a unique, evolving blend. Using his culinary training and understanding of flavor profiles, Eric experimented until he created something extraordinary.

"I used the flavor profiles that I believed would create the most balanced blend that my friends and guests would enjoy," Eric explains. "I had to create a blend that everyone would enjoy. Something not extreme or lacking. It's not too peaty or smoky or mild. FIOR is a great example of an exceptionally well-balanced and smooth blend."

The blend became so good that Eric didn't want to change it. When the Infinity Bottle started to run low, he realized that once it was gone, he would have to start all over. That's when he reached out to his college friend, James Landis.

The Partnership

James Landis was one of the original founders of Hpnotiq liqueur (sold to Heaven Hill in 2003) and had been in the spirits industry for four generations. "Eric went into the military, and I went into the booze industry," Landis recalls.

Eric sent his friend a single bottle of his scotch blend and asked if Landis could find a way to reverse-engineer it and recreate it at scale. "I knew scotch geniuses in Scotland and sent it to people I know that have palates beyond what I could comprehend," Landis says.

Landis' contacts developed three samples for commercial production. The first sample was only okay, the third didn't taste great, but the second sample was perfect—it captured the taste, aroma, and smoothness of Eric's original infinity blend.

The plan was simple: create six cases for friends, family, and barbecues. Eric never intended to sell it commercially. But his fellow Marines had other ideas. For 48 hours straight, his Marine buddies hounded him, insisting he should sell it. They asked if people would actually buy it. When Eric asked Landis the same question, his friend saw the potential immediately and asked to partner with him to market the scotch.

The Name: Fior Ghlan

It was Landis who suggested the name "Fior." At first, Eric wasn't sold—fior means "flower" in Italian, and he wasn't selling wine. But Landis explained that in Scottish Gaelic, "fior ghlan" means "pure," "true," and "clean"—virtues that perfectly embodied what Eric wanted to create.

"I wanted something real, pure, and true," Eric says. "Scotch, and the tradition of its production, is the embodiment of those virtues."

Fior Scotch officially launched in 2023, and the response has been overwhelming.

---

Vision: Representation, Excellence, and Service

Eric Dominijanni's vision for Fior Scotch extends far beyond creating a premium spirit. It's about representation, accessibility, and honoring the communities that shaped him.

A Scotch for Everyone

"I want to see FIOR transcend boundaries. I want a successful black man to reach for a bottle of FIOR in his liquor cabinet." Eric says. "I want to see a white gunnery sergeant exhausted after a field exercise pouring a glass of FIOR. I want to see an asian guy who just had a baby raise a toast with FIOR." I want to see ALL people celebrating with it.

This philosophy drove every decision in creating Fior. "This is not a $300 scotch, but it is a $40 scotch that I would be proud to drink," Eric emphasizes. "This is the first Black-owned scotch, first veteran-owned scotch, everyone loves it, and I can't tell you how proud I am of this right now."

Stories of Impact

Eric shares two stories that exemplify what Fior means to different communities:

It was at liquor stores in ATL, NY and SC... I have had people say "Oh its black owned... i'll pick up two bottles or... Its veteran owned.... I'll take two bottles"
I had guys offering to buy a case because it was black owned but they sold out.

Another time, at the garbage dump on weekends, Eric struck up a conversation with workers there about his scotch. One of them paused and said, "Wait a minute, you have your own scotch company?" When Eric confirmed, the man replied with pride: "Wow, WE have our own scotch."

Giving Back

This commitment to service reflects Eric's core values and is a thank you to Carolyn Blashek and Operation Gratitude for their friendship and personal support during his deployments. To all those devil dogs, gyrenes, jar heads, leathernecks and crayon eaters that served before me, with me, and that serve now, I raise a glass to you. HOORAH!!!”

The Future

Eric is actively working to expand veteran and minority involvement in his business. He's expressed interest in the SkillBridge program, which allows military service members to apprentice with a company during their last six months of active duty, providing a bridge from military to civilian life.

Future plans include bringing Fior to the Dominican Republic, where it will be "finished" in Dominican rum barrels—a nod to Eric's love of rum from his extensive time in the Caribbean and his commitment to innovation while honoring tradition.

A Message to Veterans

Eric's advice to fellow retirees and transitioning service members is simple but powerful: "You have to find your passion and pursue it. Stay busy. Maintain your connections with your fellow service members. Finding purpose after the military is crucial."

He emphasizes the importance of staying engaged: "After leaving the military, it's easy to feel lost. But the skills you gained—leadership, management, the ability to delegate tasks—these translate directly to business success. In any business, if you don't have leadership and management, you will fail."

---

Fior Scotch: The Product

Name Origin: Fior Ghlan (Scottish Gaelic) - "Pure," "True and Clean"
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Blend: Super-premium, hand-crafted blend of Highland and Speyside Scotches
Production: Small batches, produced and bottled in Scotland
Master Blender: David Hallgarten
ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
Malt/Grain Content: 40% high malt-to-grain ratio

Tasting Notes

Color: Deep, rich maple
Nose: Inviting with rich vanilla and just a hint of campfire smoke
Palate: Rounded and complete with notes of oak, chocolate, and soft spices
Finish: Luxuriously smooth and long, balancing comforting malt tones with warm salted almonds for a taste that lures you back for more

Availability

Fior Scotch is available in: include: Online, NY/NJ, CT, MD, DC, SC, GA, TX Coming soon: CA, FL

How to Enjoy

Eric prefers his Fior neat, but for cocktails, he keeps it simple: "FIOR, cold brew coffee and that's it. KISS. I couldn't image a cocktail that says Marine Corps more than Scotch and Coffee"

---

Connect with Eric and Fior Scotch

Website: www.fiorscotch.com
Social Media: Share Fior's story and tag the brand
Charitable Giving: Operation Gratitude

---

In His Own Words

"Cooking, making mead, ale, beer, etc has never been a 'hobby.' It has been a passion. It is in my blood. It is what I do when I am in a good mood, a bad mood, when I am upset or happy. More than creating a great meal or drink, I love to see the look of enjoyment on a person's face when they taste my carbonara, mead, or now... FIOR!"

"I never thought that I would be here. I had to create something that everyone could enjoy and everyone is happy with it."

"I don't consider myself a hero, but rather someone who did the right thing."

---

Eric Dominijanni's story is one of service, passion, and perseverance. From the classrooms of Queens to the battlefields of Iraq, from the kitchens of culinary school to the distilleries of Scotland, his journey exemplifies what it means to pursue excellence in all things. Through Fior Scotch, he's not just building a brand—he's creating a legacy that honors those who served, celebrates representation, and brings people together over a perfectly balanced dram.