Nick Smith Named Lofted Spirits Master Distiller as Steve Nally Moves to Emeritus Role
Artfully Bourbon / October 7, 2026The appointment puts a longtime Bardstown distiller in charge of production across the company’s own brands and custom spirits business.
Photo Credit: Lofted SpiritsThe next person to lead whiskey production at Lofted Spirits has already spent a decade helping build it. Nick Smith is becoming master distiller, while Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Famer Steve Nally moves into master distiller emeritus.
Lofted Spirits announced the transition on October 7, alongside news that Bardstown Bourbon Company has filled its one millionth barrel since distillation began in September 2016.
What changes
Smith will oversee distilling and warehouse operations across Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River and Lofted Custom Spirits.
A Bardstown native and University of Kentucky graduate, Smith began his distilling career at Jim Beam before joining Bardstown Bourbon Company in 2016. The company credits him with helping develop Bardstown’s High Wheat bourbon and expanding production for custom spirits customers, including work beyond American whiskey.
Nally will continue representing Lofted Spirits and Kentucky bourbon alongside his wife, Donna, who is also a Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member. His updated company biography says he also remains involved in product development.
Nick Smith / Photo Credit: Lofted SpiritsWhy it matters
Nally helped establish this operation before it had whiskey to sell. After a career that included becoming master distiller at Maker’s Mark and helping launch Wyoming Whiskey, he joined Bardstown Bourbon Company in 2014 as its first employee.
Smith’s appointment follows years of increasing responsibility. Bardstown’s previously published profile records his promotion to head distiller in 2019 and his involvement across the company’s early operations.
The new role extends beyond the bottles bearing Bardstown’s name. Custom distillation requires making spirits to different customers’ specifications. Maintaining consistency across those recipes is a substantial part of the responsibility, alongside developing new ones.
The AB take
This is a credible succession choice: Smith brings experience inside the operation he will lead, and Nally’s continued involvement preserves access to decades of knowledge.
For drinkers, the useful thing to watch is how Smith’s priorities show up in future releases and what Lofted shares about making them. His appointment establishes who will lead production. Those decisions will show where he wants to take it.
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