A new master distiller and a million-barrel milestone give the team behind Bardstown Bourbon and Green River plenty to celebrate.
Nick Smith is taking over whiskey production at the company he helped get started ten years ago. Lofted Spirits announced his promotion to Master Distiller on October 7, giving him oversight of Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River Whiskey and the production of spirits for other brands through Lofted Custom Spirits.
The appointment coincides with another reason to celebrate: Bardstown has filled its millionth barrel, a decade after its stills began running in September 2016.
A New Role For Smith And Nally
The handoff keeps two generations of distilling experience within the company. Steve Nally, the outgoing master distiller, is a Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member with more than 50 years in the spirits business. Nally is moving into an ambassador role with the title of Master Distiller Emeritus, while Smith takes responsibility for the production operations.
Smith arrived at Bardstown in 2016 after learning the trade in production jobs at Jim Beam. Working alongside Nally, he helped develop the High Wheat bourbon and explore new recipes, smaller experimental runs and spirits beyond whiskey.
Outgoing Master Distiller and Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member Steve Nally.
For Nally, the change follows a career stretching from Maker’s Mark to Wyoming Whiskey and back to Kentucky, where he became Bardstown Bourbon Company’s first hire. His next assignment will take him beyond the distillery to represent Lofted and Kentucky bourbon around the country.
Employees will gather later this year to mark both Smith’s promotion and the million-barrel milestone.
About Lofted Spirits
Lofted Spirits is a Kentucky spirits company whose business spans its own whiskey brands and production for other producers. Its portfolio includes Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River Whiskey, with Lofted Custom Spirits handling contract distilling for outside clients. The group’s roots trace to the Bardstown operation founded by Peter Loftin in 2016, and it has been part of the PPC family of companies since 2022.
Photographs courtesy of Lofted Spirits.
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