Lofted Spirits announced the elevation of Nick Smith to Master Distiller, responsible for production at Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River Whiskey and Lofted Custom Spirits. 

Smith has been there since the beginning; he joined Bardstown Bourbon Co. 2016 and has helped build the operation from the ground up, guiding its growth from an ambitious startup to a leader in modern spirits, today one of the largest suppliers of American Whiskey.

Smith takes the reins from Bourbon Hall-of-Famer Steve Nally, who assumes the role of Master Distiller Emeritus. For the past decade, Smith has worked alongside Nally, honing his leadership expertise while gleaning the wisdom that can come only from 50+ years in the industry.

Smith, a Bardstown native and graduate of University of Kentucky, began his distilling career at Jim Beam where he worked his way through multiple production roles, gaining hands-on experience across the distilling process. Since joining Bardstown Bourbon Co. in 2016, his knowledge of every stage of whiskey production has made him essential to Lofted Spirits’ growth – developing Bardstown’s signature High Wheat bourbon, pioneering small-batch experiments, and driving distilling innovation for Lofted Custom Spirits clients, including expanding beyond American Whiskey to distill a range of spirits, including rum.

“Nick’s background, including his tutelage under Steve, makes him perfectly suited for his new role as Master Distiller.  Nick played a crucial role in taking Lofted Spirits to the largest distiller of contract spirits in Kentucky,” Mark Erwin, CEO of Lofted Spirits, said in a news release.  “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.”  

In his new role, Steve Nally will continue to serve as an ambassador of Lofted Spirits and Kentucky Bourbon across the United States along with his wife Donna, who is also a Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member.

“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.  

Nally has spent more than 50 years in the distilled spirits industry, including a long tenure at Maker’s Mark where he rose to Master Distiller before leaving to help launch Wyoming Whiskey.  When Nally returned to Kentucky, he joined Bardstown Bourbon Company as employee number one. Together with Smith, Nally helped shape Bardstown Bourbon Co. into one of the most innovative and technically advanced distilleries in the United States.

That growth has led to the filling of the one millionth barrel produced at Bardstown Bourbon Co. since it began distillation in September 2016. Employees will celebrate this milestone, along with Smith’s elevation, at an internal event later this year.

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