Ian Stirsman
Ian J. Stirsman was born on April 17, 1987 and grew up in central Ohio. After graduating from Oakwood high school in 2005, Stirsman enrolled in Ohio University’s chemical engineering program and combined his engineering studies with a minor in biological sciences. He graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, leaving Ohio University with the technical foundation that would define his professional career. After graduation, Stirsman joined P. H. Glatfelter Company, a global producer of specialty papers and engineered materials. There he worked as a process engineer and later as a shift manager. Outside work, however, Stirsman had already developed an interest in fermentation, brewing beer at home, and experimenting with yeast, grain, flavor development, and process control, albeit on a small scale. That hobby would ultimately become a bridge between his engineering background and his future profession. He also already maintained a well-stocked whiskey collection at home, reflecting a genuine enthusiasm for the products he would eventually help create professionally.
The turning point in his career came in 2014 when he was recruited by MGP Ingredients, owner of the historic distilling operation in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. For whiskey enthusiasts, MGP’s Lawrenceburg facility occupies a unique place in American distilling history. For decades it supplied whiskey to numerous brands across the industry, producing rye and bourbon that became foundational components of many American whiskey labels. The Lawrenceburg facility is known for operating at a scale that few distilleries can match. Producing whiskey consistently across thousands of barrels requires both scientific precision and sensory expertise. Stirsman developed both. He became deeply involved in the company’s sensory training programs, learning to identify flavor characteristics and production defects through smell and taste. He later explained that the distillery maintained rigorous sensory standards, with trainees tested on their ability to identify specific flaws intentionally introduced into samples. This training helped transform him from an engineer who understood production processes into a whiskey maker capable of evaluating quality through sensory analysis.
Stirsman’s progression through the company was rapid but methodical. He began as a shift manager before moving into process engineering. From there he advanced into increasingly specialized leadership roles, eventually becoming fermentation and distillation manager. Each position expanded his understanding of whiskey production. Working closely with experienced distillers and senior production personnel, he gained firsthand knowledge of fermentation management, distillation techniques, maturation practices, and sensory evaluation. Then, a major milestone came in 2019 when Stirsman earned his Master Distiller certification. By that point, he had accumulated experience across multiple operational areas and had become one of the company’s most technically-accomplished whiskey professionals. The certification recognized both his practical expertise and his command of the science underlying distillation. It also positioned him as a leading candidate for greater responsibility within the organization.
The next chapter began in 2021, following the merger between MGP Ingredients and Luxco. As part of the integration, the historic Lawrenceburg distillery was renamed Ross & Squibb Distillery, honoring two nineteenth-century distilling pioneers who helped establish Lawrenceburg’s reputation as “Whiskey City USA.” When company leaders sought someone to lead the newly branded operation, they looked internally.
In January 2022, Stirsman was appointed the first Master Distiller in the history of Ross & Squibb Distillery. The appointment represented both a personal achievement and a symbolic passing of responsibility to a new generation of whiskey makers. As Master Distiller, Stirsman assumed responsibility for some of the most recognizable brands produced at the facility, including George Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union Rye Whiskey. His duties expanded beyond production management. He became responsible for product innovation, barrel selection programs, limited-edition releases, consumer education, and public representation of the distillery. The role required him to balance technical oversight with marketing, hospitality, and brand stewardship. Stirsman’s influence quickly became visible in new releases. In 2023, Ross & Squibb announced the release of Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, a limited-edition expression personally selected by Stirsman. The project highlighted the distillery’s long-standing expertise in rye whiskey production while also demonstrating his interest in innovation through new mash bills and maturation approaches. Speaking about the release, he emphasized both the historical traditions of the Lawrenceburg facility and the ongoing effort to refine and improve the character of its whiskeys.
Despite his growing public profile, Stirsman has consistently described whiskey production as fundamentally a “manufacturing-and-people-centered business.” In interviews, he has emphasized that every day is different. Some days involve engineering and operations; others focus on sensory analysis, product development, or consumer engagement. He has also spoken about the patience required in whiskey making, noting that many ideas developed today may not reach consumers for years because maturation cannot be rushed. That perspective reflects an understanding of whiskey as both an industrial product and an agricultural craft.
By the middle of the 2020s, Ian Stirsman had become one of the most visible figures associated with Ross & Squibb and the broader MGP whiskey portfolio. His career demonstrates how modern American distilling increasingly depends on scientific expertise alongside traditional craftsmanship. From chemical engineering classrooms in Ohio to the warehouses and stillhouses of Lawrenceburg, he built a career grounded in technical knowledge, operational excellence, and a deep appreciation for the role whiskey plays in bringing people together. In an industry that often celebrates heritage, Stirsman represents something equally important: the next generation of distillers who combine tradition with science to shape the future of American whiskey.
Sources:
MGP Ingredients, “Ross & Squibb Distillery Names First Master Distiller”, January 25, 2022, mgpingredients.com
Ohio University News, “Chemical Engineering Graduate Becomes Master Distiller”, November 17, 2022, Chloe Musick, ohio.edu
Fred Minnick, “Ross & Squibb Distillery Name First Master Distiller”, January 25, 2022, fredminnick.com
Mastrogiannis Distillery Nation (podcast), “Inside America’s Whiskey Powerhouse: Ian Stirsman…”, February 1, 2026, mastrogiannisdistillery.com
Ian Stirsman (@istirsman), Instagram Profile, instagram.com
Contributed by Tracy McLemore, Fairview, Tennessee
