Award-Successful Mixologist and Writer Will Provide Experience as Model Strikes Into 20th State for Distribution
SPARTA, KY (July 2025) – Mixologist Molly Wellmann, named “Finest Bartender/Proprietor within the Nation” by a number one on-premise spirits media outlet, is becoming a member of the Hidden Barn Whiskey group as its Grasp Taster. In her new function, Wellmann shall be serving to with the batching and single barrel choices of Hidden Barn Whiskey, as she builds on the tasting profile and batching fashion developed by Grasp Blender Emeritus Jackie Zykan.
“Jackie bought us into an important place with the creation of a mode and profile that myself, Bekah Neeley and the Staff at Neeley Household Distillery will proceed to duplicate and construct upon,” mentioned Royce Neeley, president and grasp distiller, Neeley Household Distillery. “The addition of Molly gives a helpful outdoors tasting perspective, in addition to on-premise consumption information, and cocktail crafting experience from one of the revered mixologists within the trade. As Hidden Barn strikes into its 20th state for distribution, Molly’s information in these areas shall be invaluable to assist us construct model gross sales.”
Neeley notes guests can count on to see Wellmann interacting on the Neeley Household Distillery in Northern Kentucky, signing bottles, tasting with followers, and perhaps even leaping behind the bar. She’ll even be visiting some markets with the Neeley group as they develop, sharing her experience and bourbon historical past storytelling.
“I’m excited to affix the group at Hidden Barn, having recognized Royce and Bekah Neeley and Jackie Zykan for years,” mentioned Wellmann, grasp taster, Hidden Barn Bourbon. “One of many issues that drew me to working with the Neeley group is Royce’s ‘old skool’ distillation methods, utilizing pot nonetheless distillation along with his household’s mash recipe they’ve used for generations. Like Royce, I’ve immersed myself within the historical past of outdated whiskey, as I’ve used that information in crafting cocktails and curating traditionally correct cocktail menus. It looks as if the proper pairing for us to share our love of historic distillation to assist Hidden Barn Bourbon develop even additional.”
About Molly Wellmann
Molly is a self-taught mixologist based mostly in Cincinnati who has immersed herself within the wealthy world of basic cocktails and effective spirits, significantly American whiskey. Her ardour for mixology is rooted in intensive analysis into the historical past and correct preparation of cocktails.
All through her profession, Molly has had the respect of working at quite a few widespread eating places and bars throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She is the previous proprietor of a number of institutions, together with Outdated Kentucky Bourbon Bar, Myrtles Punch Home, The Annex, Neons, Soften, and Japp’s. At the moment, she operates Molly Wellmann Consulting & Leisure, the place she consults on varied bar applications within the Cincinnati space and provides specialty bartending for main occasions, cocktail courses, cocktail creation, and bourbon tastings.
Molly’s experience has been featured in a number of publications, together with Midwest Residing, Cincinnati Journal, the Cincinnati Enquirer, Individuals Journal, Cincinnati Enterprise Courier, and CityBeat, in addition to in varied well-read blogs. She has made visitor appearances on quite a few podcasts and has served as a mixology contributor for Bourbon+ Journal. Moreover, she is a daily speaker at Moonshine College in Louisville and has been a spirit decide for the American Distilling Institute, The Ascot Awards, and The New Orleans Spirit Competitors. Molly can also be an Govt Bourbon Steward by means of Stave and Thief.
Her expertise has been acknowledged by her friends, as she has been voted Finest Mixologist/Bartender by CityBeat journal from 2010 to 2018 and once more in 2020 by means of 2022. In 2019, she was acknowledged because the Finest Bartender/Proprietor within the Nation by Nightclub and Bar Media.
She is the creator of “Handcrafted Cocktails” and is at the moment engaged on her second e-book.
About Hidden Barn Bourbon Whiskey
Hidden Barn’s title harkens again to the native communities who painted their barns black in solidarity with distillers throughout Prohibition. This sense of group is sustained right this moment by means of the fervour for high quality whiskey and camaraderie shared by its three founders, Jackie Zykan, Royce Neeley and Nate Winegar, and continues with Molly Wellmann becoming a member of as Grasp Taster and Zykan shifting to Grasp Blender Emeritus. Earlier Hidden Barn Collection releases have earned Better of Class within the Small Batch Bourbon As much as 5 years by The Tasting Alliance, Double Golds on the San Francisco World Spirits Competitors in 2023 and 2024, and Finest Small Batch, 1st Place on the 2023 New Orleans Bourbon Pageant. Hidden Barn Bourbon is owned by Neeley Household Distillery. The model is on the market on-line and in choose states. For extra info go to hiddenbarnwhiskey.com.
