Andrea Marie Wilson

“The Master of Maturation”

Bourbon Hall of Fame!

Her Grandfather would be proud!

Andrea Marie Wilson was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2022 and the career that has led her there has been an amazing journey.

Wilson was first inspired to distilling by her grandfather. He was a moonshiner and used to tell his moonshining stories to her. She found them exciting and interesting. She referred to it as “listening to a movie.”

While her grandfather had to give up moonshining in order to marry her grandmother (this was apparently one of the requirements), his stories live on to this day. They live on in the commitment, passion and pride in what Wilson does every day and, eventually, to the Hall of Fame career that the rest of get to enjoy anytime we open a bottle of Michter’s.

From before she decided to attend the University of Louisville to study Chemical engineering, Wilson knew she wanted to be in the bourbon industry. But, when she graduated in the 90’s, bourbon wasn’t an industry doing as well as it is today. So, she became an engineering consultant, which allowed her to work on many different projects. In 2003, she got on with a project with Diageo. Two years later, this led to a full-time position with the industry giant.

At Diageo, she got to work on a myriad of things. She was in on whiskey planning, distillation and maturation and worked on the revitalization of the Stitzel-Weller facility. She was intrical in managing production of Bulliet Bourbon during its extensive growth. By the end of her Diageo career, she was part of the team that took the Bulleit Distillery in Shelbyville, KY to the board of directors at Diageo.

Another notable achievement was the fact that in 2005, she served as a board member of the Kentucky Distillers Association and in 2009, became the first woman ever to serve as its Chair.

In 2014, her job at Diageo was dissolved and she began at Michter’s the next day. Literally, the next day, July 1, 2014. From a giant in the industry to a family-owned business, which has brought a new list of opportunities for Wilson. From then to now, she has become the Master of Maturation and Chief Operating Officer there. While at Michter’s, she has used her passion to help extensively grow the Shively Distillery. She was equally as important in the establishment of the Fort Nelson Distillery and their farm and operations in Springfield.

Notable achievements:

Graduation from Univ. of Louisville, Master in Chemical Engineering

Business and Professional Women Young Careerist Award Nominee (2004)

Kentucky Distillers Association Chait of Board of Directors (2009)

Diageo President’s Spirit of Supply Hero Award for Brilliant Execution (2010)

Frazier Museum Task Force development of Kentucky Bourbon Trail

JB Speed School- Professional Award in Chemical Engineering (2018)

Bourbon Woman Association- the 2018 Lois Mateus Networking Award

Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame 2022

Contributed by: M. J. Jacobs, Knoxville, Tennessee