The American Distilling Institute is pleased to announce that ADI advisory board member and lead whiskey judge Richard Wolf, managing principal of Wolf Consulting, has been inducted into the prestigious Order of the Writ – Spirit of Kentucky Bourbon Society’s inaugural class of members in a private ceremony and welcome dinner held recently in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Order of the Writ is a fraternal and charitable organization that embraces the spirit of Kentucky Bourbon education, responsibility, environmental stewardship, history, scholarship and an unwavering commitment to the furtherance of America’s only native spirit.
Membership is offered only by unanimous invitation of The Fifteen, the Order of the Writ’s founding members, signifying Kentucky’s founding as the 15th state of the Union.
To be eligible for membership, a nominee must have had a service or association with the Kentucky Bourbon industry and have made a positive contribution to the management, production, sales, marketing, distribution, promotion or development of Kentucky Bourbon for a minimum of five years.
Each nominee is chosen for membership by a founder who attests to the candidate’s merit before the founding council. Upon this recommendation, the candidate must be approved for membership by unanimous vote.
“The Order of the Writ is evidence that Kentucky Bourbon is worthy of the same recognition and reputation enjoyed globally by the world’s other great spirits — Scotch and Cognac,” said Chris Morris, Brown-Forman Corporation Master Distiller and Governor of The Order of the Writ.
There will never be more than 1,776 Holders of the Writ, in commemoration of the year that the Virginia General Assembly granted preference to the pioneers taming the Commonwealth’s western frontier.
“Members of the Order share an exceptional commitment to elevate and defend the integrity of Kentucky Bourbon and to share its virtues in the spirit of Kentucky’s legendary hospitality,” said Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and the Order’s Sergeant-at-Arms.
Members of The Founding Council of the Order of the Writ are Chris Morris (Brown-Forman Corp.), Joseph Magliocco (Michter’s Distillery), Pauline Rooney (Diageo), Eric Gregory (Kentucky Distillers’ Association), Jimmy Russell (Wild Turkey), Fred Noe (Beam Suntory), Bill Samuels (Maker’s Mark), Max Shapira (Heaven Hill Brands), Brent Elliott (Four Roses Distillery), Kaveh Zamanian (Rabbit Hole Distillery), and Britt Kulsveen (Willett Distillery).
