LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lofted Spirits has named Nick Smith master distiller, placing the Bardstown native in charge of production for Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River Whiskey and Lofted Custom Spirits as its Bardstown distillery marks its one millionth barrel filled.
Smith succeeds Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member Steve Nally, who becomes master distiller emeritus and will continue representing the company and Kentucky bourbon as an ambassador.
Announced Oct. 7, the leadership transition builds on a decade of collaboration between Smith and Nally. Both helped establish Bardstown Bourbon Company’s production operations and guide its growth from a startup into a major American whiskey supplier.
Smith joined Bardstown Bourbon Company in 2016, the year the distillery began production. Since then, he has played a role in developing its whiskey portfolio, expanding its custom distilling capabilities and overseeing the production processes behind that growth.
A University of Kentucky graduate, Smith began his distilling career at Jim Beam, working through multiple production roles and gaining experience across the whiskey-making process. At Bardstown, his work has included developing the company’s signature High Wheat bourbon, pursuing small-batch experiments and advancing production for Lofted Custom Spirits customers.
That work has also taken the company beyond American whiskey into other spirits, including rum.
“Nick’s background, including his tutelage under Steve, makes him perfectly suited for his new role as Master Distiller,” said Mark Erwin, CEO of Lofted Spirits. “Nick played a crucial role in taking Lofted Spirits to the largest distiller of contract spirits in Kentucky.”
Erwin said Smith’s combination of production expertise and willingness to experiment will help guide the company’s next phase.
“He brings equal parts operational precision and creative experimentation to this role, and we’re excited to see where Nick takes us as we continue to think differently about what’s possible in this space,” Erwin said.
Smith takes on the position after working alongside one of bourbon’s most experienced distillers. Nally’s career spans more than 50 years, including a long tenure at Maker’s Mark, where he rose to master distiller before leaving to help launch Wyoming Whiskey.
After returning to Kentucky, Nally joined Bardstown Bourbon Company as its first employee. Working with Smith, he helped develop the production operation and establish the approach to innovation and collaboration that has shaped the company’s growth.
“Nick and I have worked closely together for the past decade, and I have no doubt he can take on this role and expand upon the work we did together while continuing our hallmarks of transparency, trust, and partnership,” Nally said.
As master distiller emeritus, Nally will continue serving as an ambassador for Lofted Spirits and Kentucky bourbon across the United States alongside his wife, Donna, who is also a Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member.
The transition coincides with a production milestone at Bardstown Bourbon Company: the filling of its one millionth barrel since distillation began in September 2016.
The milestone reflects a decade of expansion for the Bardstown operation, encompassing production for its own whiskey portfolio and custom spirits customers. Smith’s new responsibilities extend across that business as well as Green River Whiskey.
Employees will celebrate the millionth barrel and Smith’s promotion at an internal event later this year.
ABOUT LOFTED SPIRITS
From bespoke bourbon production to boundary-pushing brands, Lofted Spirits is where tradition meets transformation. Expanding on the work started by Peter Loftin in 2016, and today the number one producer of Kentucky contract whiskey, and the 7th largest supplier of American Whiskey, Lofted Spirits pioneered a world-class, industry-shaking approach to custom contract distillation while developing some of the fastest-growing brands in American Whiskey, Bardstown Bourbon and Green River. A unified entity, Lofted Spirits is built to lead the global spirits industry, delivering exceptional experiences through innovation, trust and transformative industry impact while crafting some of the world’s most desired and awarded whiskies. Lofted Spirits joined the PPC family of companies in 2022. Learn more at LoftedSpirits.com.
