Melissa Rift is charting new paths for Kentucky’s best-known spirit. As Master Taster for Old Forester, Rift chooses the flavour profiles to emerge in the brand’s latest barrels. Yet, she finds sharing bourbon’s history her most rewarding role: “When you share that story with people, you watch it win them over.”

Ashley Smith’s non-profit, Black Soil KY, aims to reconnect Black Kentuckians with their agricultural heritage and elevate Black farmers’ products from the margins to the mainstream. The bourbon industry — one of Kentucky’s oldest and most vital sectors —serves as a powerful ally in her mission.

After 44 years in the industry, Jodie Filiatreau is still devoted to the “work and magic” of bourbon-making — and the hard work it requires. As an artisanal distiller, Filiatreau makes just one barrel a day of handcrafted bourbon. “This job is mostly about learning by doing and knowing what you like.”