Industry veteran Lisa Roper Wicker has been named Director of Distilling for Whiskey Thief Distilling Company, according to Walter Zausch, the distillery’s owner and CEO.
Whiskey Thief has two locations. The original distillery is set on a 127-acre working farm in Franklin County, just outside Frankfort, Kentucky. The second location is a tasting room in the NuLu are of Louisville that opened last year.
Whiskey Thief said it is “Kentucky’s first distillery to offer every visitor a unique straight-from-the-barrel, uncut and unfiltered tasting and thieving experience.” Read about my visit to both locations here.
“I’m impressed by the brand, distillery & tasting room, and the reputation Walter has built for Whiskey Thief in only five years as owner and CEO. Add in a team of great people, delicious whiskey thieved straight from the barrel, goats, and live music; it’s a privilege to join this authentically Kentucky team. I am excited to start,” said Wicker.
Lisa Roper Wicker’s 25 year resume includes:
Farm wineries in Indiana and Kentucky where she worked as an apprentice winemaker and built a winery with an established vineyard in Ky.
She moved into distilling with Limestone Branch Distillery, then with Starlight Distillery, and Preservation Distillery.
In 2017, Wicker founded Saints & Monsters Consulting. Her client work focused on product development and distillery startups, and blending American and Canadian whiskey.
Her consulting work with spirit company Samson & Surrey led Wicker into transitioning into Director of Distilling with all of the portfolio brands before being named President and Head Distiller with Widow Jane.
CEO of Alltech Beverage in Ireland and Kentucky, the portfolio included two breweries and two distilleries.
Consulting Distiller for George Washington’s Distillery at Mount Vernon where she was commended as an “Icon of Whiskey.”
(Source: Whiskey Thief Distilling Company).
“Lisa is someone we’ve known for a while, and are excited to bring her to Whiskey Thief to grow distilling, both in production quantity and quality, and be part of the team to develop the future of the brand. Her experience is not only with large distilleries, but craft handmade pot distillation, as well as even farming heirloom grain, which we farm in Franklin County. Lisa is a natural fit for Whiskey Thief. We are also excited for her to help us inform and grow our product strategy.”
About Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.
(From the distillery) Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. is the first Kentucky distillery to offer every visitor a unique, straight-from-the-barrel Bourbon tasting and thieving experience, uncut and unfiltered. Distilling for over a decade on their 127-acre working farm in Franklin County, Kentucky, Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. celebrates single-barrel bourbons and whiskeys distillated from grain grown on-site. Guests at the farm and the new tasting room in Louisville are invited to fill their own bottle of Kentucky Bourbon and rye whiskey straight from the barrel, at barrel strength.
