In January 2021 distilled spirits maker MGP Ingredients announced it had acquired Luxco for $475 million. Luxco has been home to a portfolio of consumer facing brands for many years including Ezra Brooks Bourbon Whiskey, Daviess County Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Yellowstone Bourbon Whiskey, El Mayor Tequila and Everclear. In September MGP announced the marketing for their consumer facing brands George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey would move over to the Luxco team. At the same time they also announced the naming of the consumer facing distillery would be Ross & Squibb Distillery. You can learn more about that history here.
Ross & Squibb Distillery Names Ian Stirsman Master Distiller
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This latest announcement continues to build on the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana plans as Ian Stirsman has been named the first master distiller at Ross & Squibb Distillery. Stirsman will serve as master distiller for all Ross & Squibb brands effective immediately.
In his role, Stirsman will be responsible for guiding the product development process for new innovation and annual limited releases, hosting customers for barrel picks and distillery visits, and building brand awareness for the distillery and its brands. Stirsman will continue to serve as a resource in support of operations at MGP’s historic Lawrenceburg distillery.
Sidenote from R&S: As for now – Ross & Squibb will not be open to the public for tours. This is more for retail and distributor customers visiting and doing barrel picks.
“When we set out to name the inaugural head of Ross & Squibb operations, our hope was to find someone from within the MGP family – someone who possessed both the technical skills for the job and knowledge of the processes and traditions that made the George Remus and Rossville Union brands so great,” said David Bratcher, COO and president of branded spirits for MGP.
“We’re excited for Ian, and we’re eager to see him lead as Ross & Squibb’s first Master Distiller.”
Since 2014, Stirsman has worked in a variety of roles in MGP’s distilling operations before earning his Master Distiller certification in 2019. Prior to joining MGP, he worked as a process engineer and shift manager for PH Glatfelter Co., a global manufacturer of engineered materials. He graduated in 2010 from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering with a minor in biological sciences.
Ross & Squib Distillery pays tribute to Indiana’s distilling history and the pioneers who transformed Lawrenceburg into “Whiskey City USA” and helped make Indiana the rye capital of the world.
Luxco Brands Now Operates 5 Distilleries
Fermentation Tanks at MGP Distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN. (Click to enlarge.)
The Luxco brand umbrella now includes five distinct distilleries located in two US states, D.C and Mexico. The locations include Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown, Kentucky; Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky; Destiladora González Lux, producer of tequilas in Jalisco, Mexico; Green Hat Distillery in Washington, D.C. and Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
Learn more about MGP Ingredients Distillery.
Learn more about Lux Row Distillers.
View all Kansas Distilleries.
View all Kentucky Distilleries.
View all Missouri Distilleries.
View all Indiana Distilleries.
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