Maker’s Mark Kentucky bourbon names new master distiller, blender
Maker’s Mark, maker of premium Kentucky bourbons, has announced a new master distiller and lead blender for the Loretto distillery, positions that had been open for two years.
Blake Layfield, who most recently was senior director of innovation, blending and quality for Maker’s Mark, will be the legacy brand’s next master distiller.
Layfield, who has a doctorate in food science and holds a distilling certificate, also co-chairs the research committee of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and serves on the board of the James B. Beam Institute at the University of Kentucky. He joined Suntory Global Spirits, Maker’s Mark’s parent company, in 2019 after working with Diageo.
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Layfield will oversee the consistency and taste vision of Maker’s Mark bourbon as well as new product innovation.
“Visionary leadership has been a critical and consistent factor in the success of Maker’s Mark, from the moment Bill Sr. and Margie Samuels decided to create something completely different in the bourbon category 70 years ago,” said Rob Samuels, eighth generation whisky maker and managing director, Maker’s Mark, in a statement. “Blake embodies the brand’s commitment to culture, quality and a higher purpose, and I am thrilled he and the Maker’s Mark leadership team are guardians of the brand’s legacy and vanguards driving the brand forward.”
Beth Buckner, who has been at Maker’s Mark since 2013, will serve as lead blender. Buckner’s exceptional palate played a significant role in the development of the Wood Finishing series, according to a news release announcing the move.
Layfield and Buckner have been guiding the distillery’s taste vision since master distiller Denny Potter and head of innovation and blending Jane Bowie left in September 2022 to establish their own distillery.
