Meet the first openly gay ambassador for Brown-Forman’s oldest bourbon brand
Old Forester, Brown-Forman’s oldest bourbon brand, on Tuesday named a new master taster and brand ambassador.
Melissa Rift, a Louisville native, apparently will be the first openly gay master taster for the company in an industry that has at times struggled for inclusivity.
She follows Jackie Zykan, who was the first woman to have an Old Forester label released under her name. Zykan left earlier this year.
“I’m extremely excited to create a more inclusive bourbon industry to reflect the changing face of our beloved consumers and represent the Old Forester legacy so many love,” Rift said in the announcement.
As master taster and brand ambassador, Rift will be the public face of the brand, helping to market one of the company’s fastest growing premium spirits. A master taster typically selects barrels for special releases and barrel picks, among many other things.
And she’ll have a very high profile platform: Brown-Forman is one of the largest spirits companies in the world, with brands sold in more than 170 countries globally. The Louisville-based company, which is the parent of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and Woodford Reserve, in June reported sales last year of almost $4 billion. Sales of premium bourbons including Old Forester grew by 17 percent last year, according to the company.
Rift began her career in bourbon as a tour guide. She also has held leadership roles at Beam Suntory and Bulleit Distilling Co.
“As the country’s first bottled bourbon, Old Forester has such a history – but also an opportunity to usher in a new era for the entire industry,” Rift said in a statement. “There’s nothing better in the market than Old Forester – and I look forward to introducing more people to this authentic brand.”
The company said in its announcement that Rift “will help continue the revitalization of Old Forester, the only bourbon to exist before, during and after Prohibition and the founding brand of Brown-Forman.”
Rift said in the statement that she is excited to be part of a brand with such history as well as “an opportunity to usher in a new era for the entire industry,” Rift said.
“There’s nothing better in the market than Old Forester – and I look forward to introducing more people to this authentic brand.”
She and her wife, Brittany, live in Louisville with their two dogs and two cats, according to the news release.
“Melissa brings a dynamic personality, a devotion to the bourbon industry and an enthusiasm for the rich heritage of our 152-year-old brand,” said Mark Bacon, senior vice president and managing director of Super-Premium American Whiskey. “We’re thrilled to welcome her to the Brown-Forman family and are excited for her insights to amplify this new chapter in Old Forester’s legacy.”
