A podcast for lovers of wine, beer, liquor (incl. whisky, whiskey, bourbon, gin, vodka, tequila etc) and cocktails, Drinks Adventures hosts wine makers, brewing and distilling experts, sommeliers, bartenders & more.
Bourbon master distiller Marianne Eaves is the first female to achieve that title in Kentucky since Prohibition.
With a background in chemical engineering, Marianne found her way into the bourbon industry via an internship at Brown-Forman, the company behind whiskey brands such as Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve and Old Forrester.
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She ultimately became master taster at the company and was on track to succeed Chris Morris as Woodford's master distiller.
But 28-year-old Marianne fast-tracked her progress to the title of bourbon master distiller when she accepted a unique offer in 2015 to work on the resurrection of the Old Taylor Distillery – an incredibly ambitious project.
The historic distillery, which is now known as Castle & Key, had fallen into disrepair since it was shuttered in 1972.
Marianne has since moved on from Castle & Key and is now consulting on a host of interesting distilling projects right across the US, including a collaboration with California winery Hoopes Vineyard turning smoke-damaged wine into high-end brandy.
It was a pleasure to have Marianne join us from Texas for this interview.