26 years in the military, 14 years of that serving in elite Delta Force units, and now the CEO of Lofted Spirits, the umbrella brand of of Bardstown Bourbon Company and Green River Distilling. Mark Erwin joined the board at Bardstown Bourbon Co. in 2019 eventually stepping up as CEO.
We talk about how the private equity deal with Prtizker made more strategic sense than selling out to a major spirits conglomerate, the acquisition of Green River. and how they support craft brands from custom mash bills all the way to bottling. Plus, in a market facing shifting demand, inventory corrections, and industry cutbacks, Mark shares how Lofted is navigating current market headwinds while continuing to innovate.
Show Notes:
- Mark Erwin shares lessons from 26 years in the military, 14 years in Delta Force, and how combat teamwork translates to executive leadership.
- Transitioning from defense contracting and international business to joining Bardstown Bourbon Company’s board and becoming CEO in 2019.
- Why Bardstown Bourbon Co. chose to partner with PPC for growth capital instead of selling off to a legacy spirits giant.
- How acquiring Green River expanded production capacity and added a powerhouse, historic brand to the portfolio.
- How Lofted Spirits supports custom clients from grain-to-glass, and why they strictly separate contract operations from brand operations.
- Mark’s take on current whiskey market dynamics, balancing inventory with production cutbacks, and stabilizing contract distilling.
- A sneak peek at innovative new projects, including a real-honey finished Green River whiskey and a historic U.S. Army 250th anniversary release.