Bardstown Bourbon Co hires Barton 1792 master distiller
Kentucky-based Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBCo) has appointed John Hargrove, former master distiller at Sazerac’s Barton 1792 Distillery, as its executive director of operations.
John Hargrove has been named as executive director of operations at BBCo
Hargrove will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the site, said to be the largest new Bourbon distillery in America, and will work closely with master distiller Steve Nally to advance the distillery’s innovation programme and develop BBCo’s brands.
“John Hargrove is a fast rising star in the whiskey industry, and we could not be prouder to have him join the exceptional team we’re building at The Bardstown Bourbon Company,” said David Mandell, president and CEO, The Bardstown Bourbon Company.
“With the rapid expansion of The Bardstown Bourbon Company’s distillery operations, it’s critical we attract the most talented individuals to continue to produce the highest quality whiskey, Bourbon, and rye for ourselves and our customers.”
Hargrove joined Sazerac as quality and continuous improvement manager at the Barton 1792 Distillery, where he rose through the ranks to become master distiller.
Prior to joining Sazerac, he worked with Quaker Oats and PepsiCo in various roles, where he focused on innovation, process improvement, and project management.
“I’m excited to join a company like BBCo that is reshaping the whiskey industry,” said Hargrove. “The Bardstown Bourbon Company is supplying some of the finest brands in the world, with its one-of-a-kind, custom whiskey production programme, and I am eager to help advance their growth.”
Hargrove replaces Tom Crume, who retires from BBCo as distillery manager today, September 1. He will start at BBCo on September 15, 2017.
He will lead a distilling team of more than 30 production employees with an average of more than 15 years of whiskey making experience.
BBCo recently expanded the distillery to its current three million proof gallon capacity following the success of its Collaborative Distilling Programme.
