Life is about the journey and when you are an itinerant distiller there are oh so many stories to tell around that journey. Lisa Roper Wicker is an itinerant distiller. Her career has taken her from stitching costumes for Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker ballet, to picking grapes to make brandy, to making whiskey on an open flame pot still at George Washington’s Distillery, to making whiskey on one of the largest all copper column stills in the U.S.
What is an Itinerant Distiller?
Itinerant: i·tin·er·ant / īˈtinərənt/ — traveling from place to place.
A itinerant distiller is a traveling distiller. Historically, when the crops came in, it was time for the itinerant distiller to go from farm to farm, often carrying her own pot still, to convert this season’s excess corn or rye crops into liquid gold – whiskey. Such is the genesis of the term itinerant distiller.
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Wicker is joining Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. in Frankfort, Kentucky as Director of Distilling. Wicker’s role comes at a time of growth for Whiskey Thief, a brand making a name for itself on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Whiskey Thief Distilling company was founded nearly 13 years ago on a 127-acre farm about 20 minutes away from the state’s capital, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Woodford Reserve Distillery, and several other distilleries. Walter Zausch acquired Whiskey Thief (formerly Three Boys Farm Distillery) in 2021.
“Lisa is someone we’ve known for a while and are excited to bring her to Whiskey Thief to grow distilling, both in production quantity and quality, and be part of the team to develop the future of the brand,” says CEO and Owner of Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. Walter Zausch. “Her experience is not only with large distilleries, but craft handmade pot distillation, as well as even farming heirloom grain, which we farm in Franklin County. Lisa is a natural fit for Whiskey Thief. We are also excited for her to help us inform and grow our product strategy.”
“It’s hard to find someone these days with hands-on distilling operations in both pot distillation and column distillation. Lisa is someone that can help to take Whiskey Thief to the next level. She is somebody I can learn from. She’s walked the walk. She not only knows a lot about heirloom grains, but she knows the farmers that are growing the grains. She has so much history and knowledge that she will make me and the entire distillery better.”
“I’m impressed by the brand, distillery and tasting room, and the reputation Walter has built for Whiskey Thief in only five years as owner and CEO,” said Lisa Roper Wicker. “Add in a team of great people, delicious whiskey thieved straight from the barrel, goats, and live music; it’s a privilege to join this authentically Kentucky team. I am excited to start.”
Whiskey Straight from the Barrel – Uncut & Unfiltered
Whiskey Thief is Kentucky’s first distillery to offer every visitor a unique straight-from-the-barrel, uncut and unfiltered tasting and thieving experience. Guests get to taste the full proof whiskey the same way that a distiller tastes the fruits of their labor every day.
Since Zausch acquired the brand, he’s grown on the Trail from 8,000 visitors per year to well over 54,000 visitors last year. He’s also investing in the brand as he opened a second location last October in downtown Louisville’s NULU neighborhood. You can learn more about that tasting room, visitor and entertainment center from our recent Day on the Trail story here.
Wicker’s impressive background began in farm wineries in Indiana and Kentucky where she worked as an apprentice winemaker and built a winery with an established vineyard in Ky. She moved into distilling with Limestone Branch Distillery, then with Starlight Distillery, and Preservation Distillery.
In 2017, Wicker founded Saints & Monsters Consulting firm. Her client work focused on product development and distillery startups, and blending American and Canadian whiskey. Her consulting work with spirit company Samson & Surrey best known for Widow Jane Distilling, led Wicker into transitioning into Director of Distilling with all the portfolio brands before being named President and Head Distiller.
Wicker’s additional roles have included:
- CEO of Alltech Beverage in Ireland and Kentucky, the portfolio included two breweries and two distilleries.
- Consulting Distiller for George Washington’s Distillery at Mount Vernon where she was commended as an “Icon of Whiskey”.
Additionally, Wicker is often a keynote speaker and panelist at industry conferences; a judge for notable awards including the World Whisky Awards; and her expertise is featured in top media outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, and Whisky Magazine. She was also named a Kentucky Colonel in 2024.
Related Stories
– Whiskey Thief Distilling Owner Shares Details of New NULU Location on Nanny Goat Strut Alley [VIDEO] Oct 2024
– Whiskey Thief Distilling Promises to Steal Your Heart with an Uncut, Unfiltered, Whiskey Experience in NULU Oct 2024
– What is a Whiskey Thief?
– What is the Napa-fication of Kentucky?
Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. is the first Kentucky distillery to offer every visitor a unique, straight-from-the-barrel Bourbon tasting and thieving experience, uncut and unfiltered. Distilling for over a decade Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. celebrates single-barrel bourbons and whiskeys distillated from grain grown on its 127-acre farm. Guests at the farm in Frankfort and the new tasting room in Louisville are invited to fill their own bottle of Kentucky Bourbon and rye whiskey straight from the barrel, at barrel strength.
Learn more about Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.
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