Marianne Eaves

Born and bred in Tennessee and Kentucky, Marianne Eaves' journey into whiskey making seemed predestined. Courageously challenging norms and armed with a passion for science, she shattered barriers to become Kentucky’s first female master distiller since Prohibition.

A historic figure in the world of bourbon, Eaves started in the industry as an intern for Brown-Forman, working her way up to master taster at Woodford Reserve. In 2015, she signed on with a startup company that had purchased the legendary Old Taylor distillery as the first female master distiller of Kentucky bourbon, helping launch what would become Castle & Key. She left the distillery in 2019 —- before Castle & Key’s first aged whiskeys had been released —- to go out on her own as an independent whiskey consultant. In this role, she aims to elevate craft producers nationwide, sharing her expertise and passion for authentic Kentucky bourbon, and collaborate across the globe on spirits of all types. Forbidden Bourbon, a small batch, hand-blended 5-year-old bourbon she created with South Carolina-based partners, debuted in 2023.

Eaves has been recognized in Whiskey Advocate Magazine as “the Next Generation” for the bourbon industry, has been honored by Forbes, and included in the 2015 Food & Drink 30 under 30 list. Additionally, Wine Enthusiast Magazine named her one of America’s Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers. She is a graduate of the University of Louisville, where she studied chemical engineering.