The Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBCo), among the larger new distilleries in America, announced today the hiring of John Hargrove, former master distiller and distillery manager at Sazerac and Barton Brands 1792.
Hargrove will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the distillery, interfacing with BBCo’s collaborative distilling partners and working closely with Steve Nally, BBCo’s master distiller, in advancing BBCo’s distillery program and the development of 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,” says David Mandell, president and CEO, BBCo.
Hargrove started with Sazerac as the quality/continuous improvement manager at the Barton 1792 Distillery and rose through the ranks to master distiller. Prior to joining Sazerac, he obtained experience working with Quaker Oats/PepsiCo in various roles where he had the opportunity to focus on innovation, process improvement, and project management.
As a decorated Green Beret, John served with the 5th Special Forces Group in OCONUS and CONUS operations. He is the recipient of numerous awards and certifications, including the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, Global Defense on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.
Due to the success of the BBCo Collaborative Distilling Program, the company recently expanded the distillery to its current three million proof gallon capacity. BBCo is also developing a destination experience with a Napa Valley-style estate featuring a state-of-the-art whiskey distillery, educational experience, visitors center, event space, vintage spirits and whiskey library, bar, and restaurant. The company also plans to develop a boutique hotel on the property.
BBCo was founded in 2014 by Peter Loftin, David Mandell, Daniel Linde and Garnett Black.