Few spirits brands cater to the entrepreneurial spirit like the Bardstown Bourbon Company. In a category that generally requires a massive investment on the part of a founder to launch a brand, Bardstown’s unique model has found a way to lower the barrier of entry into the whiskey for aspiring entrepreneurs. And while almost every spirits brand will claim to incorporate tradition and innovation, you’d be hard-pressed to find a company that balances these two principles like Bardstown Bourbon.
The Park Street Insider Podcast welcomes Mark Erwin, the CEO of Bardstown Bourbon Company, for an in-depth conversation on the development of the Kentucky-based distillery. He and Andres Correa will discuss how the brand initially developed its collaborative distilling model and grew it into a platform that could support the needs of its partners while growing its own brand. The two map out the series of expansion plays the company made over its decade in business, including the investment from Constellation Brands and its acquisition of Green River Distillery.
Key Topics
- The importance of collaboration
From working closely with founders and distillers producing custom-made spirits to partnering with well-known beverage-alcohol brands to introduce unique products into their line of SKUs, Bardstown is a company that’s success has been found by reaching into the community around them.
- How to scale and increase capacity
Throughout its history, Bardstown has made several strategic moves that have allowed it to increase capacity and scale its business. Learn about how they leveraged their founder’s initial investment into additional funding and why the purchase of Green River Distilling supported many sides of their business.
- The value of transparency
From it’s all-glass infrastructure to selling its competitor’s spirits in their own retail shop, Bardstown;s investment in transparency has made them a compelling brand for consumers and industry members alike to engage with.
Featured Guest:
Mark Erwin, CEO, Bardstown Bourbon Company
Mentioned in this episode:
Bardstown Bourbon Company
Green River Distilling
Constellation Brands
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