Bardstown Bourbon Company Gender Discrimination Lawsuit

Former executive at Bardstown Bourbon Company files whistleblower lawsuit alleging top management fostered discrimination and toxic work environment

Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBC), the prominent Kentucky distillery known for its popular limited-edition releases and contract distilling services, is facing a whistleblower lawsuit from a former high-ranking executive alleging a culture of gender discrimination and systemic misconduct. The legal action, brought forward by the former Vice President of Human Resources, names top-tier executives and investment partners as defendants. The defendants have publicly denied the allegations, characterizing the claims as inflammatory and without legal merit.

Legal Allegations Against Bardstown Bourbon Company

According to reports from the news and media platform National Today, Sylvia E. Sanders filed the lawsuit in Nelson County, Kentucky, on February 13, 2026. Sanders served as the Vice President of Human Resources for Bardstown Bourbon Company for five years. Her suit alleges she was subjected to retaliation after reporting internal improprieties to company leadership and terminated as a result. The filing names Bardstown Bourbon Company President Peter Marino, Lofted Spirits CEO Mark Erwin, Pritzker Private Capital (PPC) Investment Partners, and PPC partner Christian Brickman as defendants in the matter.

Clockwise from top left; Plaintiff Sylvia E. Sanders, and defendants Peter Marino (President, Bardstown Bourbon Company), Mark Erwin (CEO, Lofted Spirits), and Christian Brickman (Partner, Pritzker Private Capital). Photographs courtesy of LinkedIn and Pritzker Private Capital.

The lawsuit details a timeline of events leading to Sanders' dismissal in May 2024. In her complaint, Sanders alleges she authored a comprehensive memo to CEO Mark Erwin outlining what she described as a "hostile work environment." According to local Bardstown newspaper, The Kentucky Standard, the lawsuit alleges “widespread discriminatory animus and slurs; improper protected classification jokes and commentary; blatant racism, ageism and sexist/gender bias; illegal identity-based decision-making; employees arriving, or becoming, while working, under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and not being properly disciplined or addressed by supervisors; falsification of mandatory occupational health, and incident-related documentation and regulatory-mandated reporting; theft of company product; a hit and run alcohol-related accident; omission of human resources altogether from mandatory reporting and/or engagement under BBC and PPC policies and procedures; and employees, including under-aged employees, being served the corporate group’s alcohol during work hours including encouraging under-age drinking.”

Sanders alleges that despite maintaining a record of exemplary performance throughout her tenure, her efforts to address these issues led to her being silenced. According to Sanders' attorney, James M. Morris, the executive escalated her concerns to PPC partner Christian Brickman in May 2024 in an attempt to ensure legal compliance. However, the lawsuit alleges that just days after this escalation, Sanders was terminated and escorted from the company property. The filing seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as a jury trial to address the claims of wrongful termination and retaliation.

“Our client was the vice president of human resources — the person charged with protecting employees and ensuring legal compliance. When she reported systemic discrimination, retaliation, and potential regulatory violations, she was silenced and removed," said Morris, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper. "No company — regardless of private equity ownership or political connections — is above Kentucky law.”

The rickhouses at the Bardstown Bourbon Company. Photograph courtesy of Bardstown Bourbon Company.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Response

In a statement provided to the industry trade website The Spirits Business, a spokesperson for Bardstown Bourbon Company directly addressed the litigation, stating: “We believe these claims are without merit, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves.”

Further clarifying the position of the parent organization, a spokesperson for Lofted Spirits described the allegations as "inflammatory" and lacking merit. While the company noted it cannot provide specific evidentiary details due to the pending nature of the legal proceedings, they expressed that they look forward to the opportunity to present their facts in court.

About The Bardstown Bourbon Company

Founded in 2014 and located in the "Bourbon Capital of the World," the Bardstown Bourbon Company is a prominent Kentucky distillery known for its modern approach to whiskey production and "collaborative distilling" program. The company operates a state-of-the-art facility that includes a full-scale restaurant and bar, producing spirits for its own brand as well as dozens of prominent customers across the industry. In 2022, the company was acquired by Pritzker Private Capital, along with its affiliate, Green River Distilling, further expanding its footprint in the spirits sector.