Makers' Mark bourbon boss steps down

Published: 13 January, 2011

Long-standing Makers' Mark president Bill Samuels is to hand over control of the Kentucky business to his son in the spring.

Long-standing Makers' Mark president Bill Samuels is to hand over control of the Kentucky business to his son in the spring.

Bill Samuels, who has been president for the past 35 years, will pass the leadership baton to his son Rob, and become chairman emeritus in April. Rob has been chief operating officer since October.

Brand owner Beam Global's chief executive Matthew Shattock said: ""Bill Samuels reinvented the way bourbon was marketed at a time when the industry needed it most. He forever changed the bourbon industry while building Maker's Mark into a global brand and staying true to his family's commitment to handcraftsmanship. We're pleased that Rob will follow in his footsteps as Bill travels throughout the world on behalf of the brand as chairman emeritus."

Bill Samuels Jr is the son of Maker's Mark founder, Bill Samuels Sr, and the seventh generation to continue the family tradition of bourbon-making first started in Kentucky by Robert Samuels in 1784. Since taking over the business from his father in 1975, Maker's Mark has experienced double-digit growth year-on-year, and the distillery has become a popular Kentucky tourist destination, attracting more than 100,000 visitors annually.

Bill Samuels said: "A lot has changed in the spirits industry since we first started selling Maker's Mark, but I've made sure all along that the way we craft our bourbon has remained the same as when we first started."

He will officially step down as president April 15 during the Maker's Mark Mile, a Grade-1 thoroughbred horserace in Lexington. This will be the 15th and last year of the race.

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