UC co-op takes engineering student from bartending to Buffalo Trace
Good spirits, great opportunities: Working behind the scenes of a bourbon distillery
When Brady Billhorn came to the University of Cincinnati, he came for co-op.
“My older brother went to UC for the co-op program. I’ve been coming to UC football games since I was a kid,” Billhorn said. “My whole family’s from Cincinnati — we love the area.”
Billhorn knew he would earn money through co-op. But with those happening every other semester, he wanted to make some cash before his first co-op started. That’s how he got into bussing tables and eventually bartending at establishments around campus.
Alongside bartending and studying engineering, Billhorn is also working toward his MBA at UC. Photo/Emily Glass
As an undergrad in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, Billhorn takes part in cooperative education, or co-op, as part of his mechanical engineering technology degree program. UC pioneered this educational model more than a century ago combining classroom instruction with full-time employment.
His most recent co-op brought him full circle to his early days as a bartender, working in manufacturing leadership development at Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Located in Frankfort, Kentucky, Billhorn’s co-op took him into the heart of bourbon country for the summer term bottling Buffalo Trace bourbon and other Sazerac Co. brands.
“It’s awesome. I’ve always loved bartending Sazerac’s products. They make really good drinks, and it’s really cool to see the other side of the coin in my co-op,” Billhorn said. “I used to see the end result when I would bartend. Now I get to experience how they’re made, distilled and bottled.”
As a part of the bottling team, he’s troubleshooted all kinds of operations at the distillery, both machine and human.
“At the beginning of the semester, I was assigned a couple projects working on the bottle packing machines and how to improve the environment for the operator,” he said. He’s since also helped streamline swapping between products and reducing errors in capping the beverages.
“Brady has demonstrated a great drive with his projects and duties during his co-op,” said his manager and a 2017 UC alum Joel Kiddy. “He has been able to overcome roadblocks and takes real initiative. Brady seeks out opportunities to learn how we operate at Buffalo Trace, and I try to put him in situations where he can learn the ‘why’ behind our operations.”
From bartending to bottling
Billhorn has become an expert on all things spirits, from manufacturing to mixing drinks. Photo/Buffalo Trace
Tight on cash his first year and in a demanding program, Billhorn sought out a part-time gig that would align with his schedule.
“I started working at the former Stadium Social. I needed a side gig that wouldn’t take up time that I would need for studying,” he said.
He subsequently worked at students’ favorite college bars Top Cats and The Dime as a bartender’s assistant, or barback. His fourth year, he hopped over to Flora & Flair in Mt. Adams.
“I started there right before I turned 21 and I told them I would barback, bounce, clean the floors… whatever they needed me to do during the week. But I wanted to be a bartender when I turned 21,” he said. “I ended up being able to do that which was very cool.”
Between all of these gigs, Billhorn co-oped in chemical manufacturing and wastewater management. His last bartending gig was at Frankie’s Sips & Savories, and then he got started at Buffalo Trace.
You can’t put a dollar amount on the experience you come out of it with.
Brady Billhorn on co-op
A perfect fit
Buffalo Trace marks Billhorns fifth, and favorite, co-op experience. Photo/Emily Glass
Billhorn said all his co-ops helped him feel more than prepared for his professional career. Even though his favorite has been with Buffalo Trace, he is grateful for the knowledge and financial support he gained at all of his co-ops. Even experiences he doesn’t want to pursue as a full-time career earned him workplace experience and helped him figure out where he excels on the manufacturing floor.
Now going into his fifth and final year, Billhorn wants to pass along the family tradition of co-oping at UC.
UC co-op fast facts
- $94 million-plus in collective self-reported earnings
- 8,300-plus students from disciplines across the university participate
- $11,220 average co-op salary per student per semester
- 1,700-plus employer partners participate in co-op
- Top 5 program in the nation (U.S. News & World Report)
Learn more about cooperative education (co-op) at UC.
“I cannot recommend it enough to my little sister. She’s a senior in high school and a lot of her friends will end up at UC,” he said. “Being in any program at CEAS, you get so much knowledge on what you do and what you don’t want to do in your career.”
“Being able to make money to pay for tuition is invaluable. You can’t put a dollar amount on the experience you come out of it with,” he said. “It makes you that much more confident.”
UC co-op program: Frequently Asked Questions
What is co-op at the University of Cincinnati?
UC defines cooperative education, or co-op, as meaningful, career-oriented, compensated workplace experiences. Co-op is a structured program where students complete academic coursework and get a paid job in their field of study, graduating with both a degree and real-world professional experience.
Find more info: What is co-op in college? How cooperative education works
Are UC co-op positions paid?
Many UC co‑ops are paid, full‑time roles. Students often use co‑op earnings to help cover tuition and living expenses, which can reduce the need for loans and improve the overall return on investment of their degree.
Learn more: How cooperative education and paid experience change the ROI equation
Which majors offer co-op, and where do UC students work?
Co‑op is deeply integrated into programs in engineering, design, information technology, business, arts, sciences and more, with support from the College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies. UC is committed to offering all students career-building, real-world experiences related to their field.
UC students co‑op in Cincinnati, across Ohio, throughout the U.S. and abroad with employers ranging from startups, design studios and nonprofits to hospitals, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies.
How does co-op help UC students after graduation?
By graduation, many Bearcats have up to 1.5 years of career‑related experience, strong resumes and professional networks. A significant number receive full‑time job offers from their co‑op employers, which is why the University of Cincinnati is widely recognized as the global founder of cooperative education and a national leader in co‑ops and internships.
Your career is next
Through one of the nation’s most robust co-op programs, UC students don’t just learn about their future — they live it, alternating classroom study with real, career-shaping experience in industries around the world.
Students: Earn while you learn at UC.
Employers: Find your next hire.
Featured image at top of a Buffalo Trace tasting tour. Photo/Buffalo Trace
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