Honoring Excellence: Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® To Induct New Members in September

FRANKFORT, Ky.— The prestigious Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® will welcome its newest class of inductees into its elite ranks this fall, honoring influential leaders who have shaped the signature industry through innovation, leadership, advocacy, storytelling, and tourism.

Created in 2001 by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the Hall of Fame® celebrates individuals who have made a significant and transformational impact on Bourbon’s stature, growth and awareness. It is the highest honor given by the signature industry.

The Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award will be bestowed on Eric Gregory, President of the KDA since 2008, who has helped transform Kentucky Bourbon into an international economic, cultural and tourism powerhouse.

Under Gregory’s steady leadership, KDA membership has grown from seven member distilleries to more than 75, while its Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour has become a global bucket-list phenomenon that attracts millions of visitors annually with a demographic rivaling Napa Valley.

Bringing craft producers alongside legendary heritage brands, Gregory built and championed a culture at the KDA where collective success outweighs individual competition, strengthening joint marketing initiatives and creating a united front with policymakers.

The results have been historic: more than 20 landmark legislative reforms passed under his watch – including the phase-out of Kentucky’s aging barrel tax, a milestone achievement sought for more than 75 years – positioning the KDA as a national model for effective industry advocacy.

“Gregory’s presidency is defined by growth, modernization, and collaboration: legislative wins that removed long-standing constraints, a Kentucky Bourbon Trail® expanded to global prominence, and an industry culture built on unity,” his nomination form said. “His impact will be felt for decades in the laws, institutions, and partnerships now in place — helping ensure the Bourbon Capital of the World remains in Kentucky.”

Gigi DaDan, Chair of the KDA Board of Directors and General Manager of Louisville Distilling Co., said each inductee represents a defining contribution to the continued evolution, enduring strength, and global prominence of Kentucky Bourbon.

“From legacy whiskey families and pioneering distillers to transformative policy leaders, educators, storytellers, and innovators who have advanced the industry across generations, these distinguished leaders represent the passion, vision, and dedication that continue to shape Kentucky Bourbon and elevate its impact around the world,” she said.

“We look forward to celebrating this extraordinary class in September during Bourbon Heritage Month®, alongside many of the industry’s most respected legends and luminaries, while continuing to showcase how Bourbon Builds Kentucky.”

Here is the 24th class of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame®, in alphabetical order:

• Shane Baker, 55, Danville, Ky and Patrick Heist, Ph.D., 53, Danville, Ky. Baker and Heist, co-founders of Ferm Solutions and Wilderness Trail Distillery, are widely recognized for blending science, innovation, and tradition to advance Kentucky Bourbon. Through expertise in engineering, microbiology, fermentation, and distillation, the duo helped modernize production practices while preserving craftsmanship. Their work with hundreds of distilleries worldwide and the success of Wilderness Trail have made them influential leaders shaping Bourbon’s future.
• The late W.L. Lyons Brown Sr. and late George Garvin Brown II, Louisville, Ky. The grandsons of Brown-Forman founder George Garvin Brown played transformative roles in building Brown-Forman into the largest Kentucky-based distilling company following Prohibition. Under their leadership, Early Times became the world’s top-selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon, while the company expanded globally and strengthened iconic brands like Jack Daniel’s. Their leadership, innovation, and industry service left an enduring mark on Kentucky Bourbon and American whiskey.
• Eric Gregory, 59, Midway, Ky. Under Gregory’s leadership, Kentucky Bourbon has experienced unprecedented growth, modernization, and global recognition. Since becoming President of the KDA in 2008, Gregory helped transform the industry through landmark legislative reforms, expansion of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour, and unifying distillers of all sizes under a shared vision. Today, Kentucky produces 95% of the world’s Bourbon, supports 24,000 jobs, generates more than $10.6 billion annually, and welcomes millions of Bourbon Trail™ visitors – achievements shaped significantly by Gregory’s passion, leadership and advocacy.
• Fred Minnick, 47, Louisville, Ky. Since returning from military service in Iraq, Minnick has become one of Bourbon’s most influential modern storytellers and advocates. Through bestselling books, national media coverage, podcasts, live events, and philanthropy, Minnick helped elevate Bourbon into mainstream culture while preserving its history and craftsmanship. A respected author, journalist, and educator, he has shaped how consumers worldwide understand and appreciate Kentucky Bourbon and American whiskey.
• John W. Schickel, 72, Union, Ky. Schickel dedicated 50 years to public service, including a distinguished tenure as Kentucky State Senator and longtime chairman of the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee. Through landmark alcohol law reforms, Schickel helped modernize Kentucky’s regulatory landscape, strengthen the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience, support craft distilling, and expand tourism opportunities statewide. His leadership played a vital role in Bourbon’s growth as a major economic and cultural driver for Kentucky.

Note: Full biographies, submitted by the inductees, accompany this release in a separate file can be found here. 

How Candidates Are Selected

Each year, candidates for the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® are submitted by KDA member distilleries and the KDA Board of Directors through a comprehensive application and review process.

A blue-ribbon committee – including all living recipients of the Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award – painstakingly reviews and selects no more than five nominees annually in three categories of distinction: Industry, Roll of Honor and Lifetime Achievement.

Parker Beam award representatives serving this year include Jimmy Russell, Master Distiller of Wild Turkey; Bill Samuels, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of Maker’s Mark; Max Shapira, Executive Chairman of Heaven Hill Brands; Chris Morris, Master Distiller Emeritus at Brown-Forman Corp., and Ken Lewis, Founder of New Riff Distillery.

Other members of the 2026 selection committee were Fred Noe, Lt. Governor of the Order of the Writ and 7th Generation Master Distiller Emeritus at the James B. Beam Distilling Co.; KDA Board Chair Gigi DaDan; and Andrea Wilson, Master of Maturation and Chief Operating Officer at Michter’s Distillery, who was appointed by KDA President Gregory.

The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® induction ceremony

This 24th Hall of Fame class will be inducted on Sept. 14 in an exclusive, private ceremony at the Marriott Louisville East in Louisville, Ky., and is proudly sponsored by Presenting Sponsor, Buzick Construction, Inc.; Bourbon Pursuit, the Official Podcast of Bourbon, Louisville Distilling Co. | Angel’s Envy Distillery, Independent Stave Company, and Vendome Copper & Brass Works Corp.

Tune In: The 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® Livestream Event, produced and sponsored by Bourbon Pursuit, the Official Podcast of Bourbon, will feature exclusive interviews with the 2026 Inductee Class, award presenters, and esteemed members of the Bourbon industry. Join Bourbon Pursuit livestream co-hosts Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil for exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes coverage, and conversations with some of Bourbon’s most influential voices throughout the event.

Learn more about the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame at www.kybourbon.com.

About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association:

Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging craft distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s signature spirit. Kentucky Bourbon is a $10.6 billion economic powerhouse generating 24,000 jobs with $2 billion in salaries and benefits and attracting nearly 3 million visits annually through the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KBT®, BOURBON TRAIL™, BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH® and KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME® are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. 

Enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian – Responsibly.

Arran Single Malt Scotch Whisky 30 Year Old

70cl · 46% ABV

Arran is proud to present its brand-new core range 30 Year Old Single Malt, a very limited release of selected old and rare sherry hogsheads from the very first year of Lochranza Distillery’s life. This bottling is something truly special and Arran is excited to finally share it. It is the oldest Arran whisky ever released and is truly worth the wait.

Superbly presented in a natural wood box with copper accents, a bespoke bottle and a premium wood-grain embossed paper label.

Finn Thomson

Bunnahabhain (Staoisha) 12 Years Old Cask 126

ABV: 54.8% 70 cL

A Selection of Island Whisky Rarities

Scotland’s island distilleries are renowned for producing whiskies of unmistakable character, shaped by rugged coastlines, maritime influence and generations of craftsmanship. Independent bottlers offer a rare opportunity to experience these celebrated spirits from a different perspective, revealing distinctive casks and flavours seldom found in core ranges.

For a limited time, discover a curated selection of independently bottled island whiskies at special prices, spanning Orkney, Arran, Jura and Mull. A chance to explore some of Scotland’s most characterful single malts.

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ralfy review 1138 – Royal Brackla 10yo @48.2%vol: (Signatory)

Hidden gem Highland distillery Tomatin continues momentum with new landmark listings

More whisky lovers than ever can now find a bottle of Tomatin single malt whisky on their local shelf, as the Highland distillery marks a year of rapid growth across its grocery and convenience portfolio.

Capitalising on its credibility in the specialist whisky space, Tomatin has added a series of new landmark listings across grocery, convenience and the on-trade over the past 18 months, bringing the distillery’s light, soft and fruity Highland single malts to a wider audience.

The expansion includes the successful launch of two retail-exclusive expressions: Tomatin Double Cask, introduced in Tesco in April 2025, and Tomatin 10 Year Old, which launched in Waitrose in November 2025. Both were developed specifically for mainstream retail and are presented in new packaging featuring a wood-grain motif symbolising the natural tree rings found in oak, reflecting the distillery’s first-class wood policy.

The two new single malts offer accessible price points for retailers to diversify their range, without compromising on the distillery’s signature style and quality.

Tomatin Double Cask is now listed across more than 600 Tesco stores throughout the UK, increased from 380 at launch. It has also secured a listing with Booker Wholesale across 22 Scottish depots, extending its reach into the convenience and on-trade channels with potential to supply over 500 Premier convenience stores. The Booker partnership also gives Tomatin a platform to reach 14,000 members of the Booker on-trade club, significantly broadening the brand’s access to the channel.

Tomatin 10 Year Old has achieved listings across 200 Waitrose stores nationwide and a full estate listing at Booths, the premium grocery retailer in the north of England, across all 25 of its stores.

Both expressions were recognised in two of this year’s leading spirits competitions. At the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026, Tomatin 10 Year Old won Gold and Tomatin Double Cask took Silver, while both single malts also secured Silver at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2026.

Gordon Hynd, UK Sales Director at Tomatin, said: “The past 18 months have demonstrated the genuine appetite for quality Highland single malt in the grocery, on-trade and convenience sectors. Building listings in Tesco, Waitrose, Booker and Booths speaks to the versatility of our two new single malt expressions, and as a key strategic priority for the business, we are continuing to gain significant traction in the channel.

“The Booker partnership reaches independent retailers through 22 Scottish depots and provides considerable access to the on-trade, meaning Tomatin whisky is now within reach of an entirely new set of customers on Scottish soil. Booths champions quality and provenance and is a natural home for Tomatin. A full estate listing across all 25 stores is a real statement of intent in the north of England.

“At Tomatin, what matters most has never changed: exceptional cask management, the craft of our people, and making single malts that are genuinely worth seeking out. Getting our whiskies in front of more people, in more places, is how we bring that to life.”

The distillery’s grocery momentum sits alongside wider distribution growth. Tomatin 12 Year Old Triple Cask has also recently been listed with LWC Wholesale, the UK’s fastest-growing independent wholesaler, strengthening on-trade presence for the expression as the brand’s new core range packaging rolls out globally.

Tomatin Double Cask is available from Tesco, priced at £37.75 for a 70cl bottle and through Booker Wholesale, and Tomatin 10 Year Old is available from Waitrose and Booths priced at £42 for a 70cl bottle.

For more information on Tomatin, visit https://tomatin.com.

Tasting Notes

Tomatin Double Cask

Nose: Aromas of vanilla-sweetened baked apples and pears lead.

Palate: Dark fruit flavours, gently balanced with ginger and cinnamon.

Finish: Sweet and spicy.

Tomatin 10 Year Old

Nose: Aromas of lemon sherbet sweets and crunchy green apples followed by buttery

croissants, white chocolate and macadamia nuts.

Palate: Lemon meringue pie, honey and a touch of toffee are complemented by apricot and

peach.

Finish: Clean and fresh.

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its refined and elegant whiskies. The distillery has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when illicit production was likely to be taking place, but it wasn’t until 1897 that the first formal distillery was established by John MacDougall as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company.

In 2022, Tomatin was awarded ‘Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Later that year, it was recognised as ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2023, in recognition of its continued contribution to sustainability at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin took home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, took home three. Tomatin’s 36 Year Old was crowned the ultimate winner at SFWSC for malts, being named ‘Best in Show’, officially making it one of the best whiskies in the world.

2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secure Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status.

Tomatin has a first-class wood policy and a commitment to knowing the history of each cask that passes through its warehouses. It is one of only a handful of Scotch whisky distilleries to have its own cooperage on-site, with cooper Allan Bartlett being named ‘Cooper of the Year’ at the 2025 Icons of Whisky Awards.

This year, Tomatin has continued its awards success, with the new Tomatin 10 Year Old single malt receiving a Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026.

‘To What Matters’ lies at the heart of the brand’s ethos and is a belief in savouring what is truly important.

Tomatin is owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo International: www.takara-intl.co.jp/en/

Tormore Timeless is matured predominantly in first-fill and refill Bourbon barrels, enhancing the spirit’s natural notes of vanilla and fruits. A small proportion of sherry cask matured whisky adds additional structure, balance and length to the palate..

£41.95

Tormore 12 Year Old is an elegantly matured single malt whisky, distinguished by its refined character and exceptional versatility. Matured in a combination of Sherry and bourbon casks, it is non-chill filtered to preserve its full character and complexity.

£54.95

Tormore 16 Year Old is a well-balanced sherry cask matured single malt, offering subtle complexity alongside a full, fruit-forward profile. Bottled without chill filtration, it delivers a rich, creamy and beautifully balanced mouth-feel.

£79.95

Tormore is a distinguished Speyside single malt Scotch whisky that combines heritage and craftsmanship in every sip. Renowned for its elegant and approachable character, Tormore delivers a refined and memorable whisky experience.

VIEW MORE TORMORE

James Eadie Ltd.

Aberlour 11 Years Old

ABV: 52.3% 70 cL

Explore the unexpected with our ‘Heresy’ releases. Sip neat or add to a summery highball. With a broad range of flavours to choose from, there’s one that will suit every barbecue guest.

‘HERESY’ BOTTLES

TAKE ME TO THE BOTTLES

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

This month is all about trying things that are just a little bit different from your usual. The long lazy days of summer offer the chance to spend some time getting your nose into the good stuff. To get you started, we’ve rounded up a selection of casks to compare and contrast. Choose your favourites, invite your pals, throw on the barbecue and you’ve got the perfect afternoon ahead!

READ MORE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video