Old Forester today announced Juan Merizalde Carrillo (above, second from left) as distillery manager for the Old Forester Distillery.
Located at 117 and 119 Main Street along Louisville’s historic “Whiskey Row,” this distillery and bourbon experience will open in late spring 2018.
Carrillo joins the current Old Forester team (pictured atop, from left) of President Campbell Brown, Master Taster Jackie Zykan and Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris.
Carrillo’s background in whisky production began in the Brown-Forman research and development lab in 2007. Since then, he has assumed roles in quality, operations and corporate engineering, as well as a management position at Jack Daniel Distillery. He has also held various leadership positions within Brown-Forman Distillery Operations.
“Juan is the perfect recipe for what we need to manage the Old Forester Distillery,” says Campbell Brown. “His experience in a lab environment coupled with his production knowledge provide a strong base for a unique facility that will showcase the art and science of bourbon making under one roof.”
In this role, Carrillo will oversee the whisky making craft for the Old Forester family of brands. He will lead the operations team at the Old Forester Distillery, “showcasing the craftsmanship and authenticity of Old Forester while also ensuring the team plays an active role in what will be a highly engaging consumer and visitor experience,” the company says.
Brown-Forman Project Manager Mike Beach will continue to oversee the distillery construction as Carrillo handles the whisky production details moving forward.
