LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 7, 2026--
Lofted Spirits announces today the elevation of Nick Smith to Master Distiller, Lofted Spirits, responsible for production at Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River Whiskey and Lofted Custom Spirits. Smith has been there since the beginning; he joined Bardstown Bourbon Co. 2016 and has helped build the operation from the ground up, guiding its growth from an ambitious startup to a leader in modern spirits, today one of the largest suppliers of American Whiskey.
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Smith takes the reins from Bourbon Hall-of-Famer Steve Nally, who assumes the role of Master Distiller Emeritus. For the past decade, Smith has worked alongside Nally, honing his leadership expertise while gleaning the wisdom that can come only from 50+ years in the industry.
Nick Smith, a Bardstown native and graduate of University of Kentucky, began his distilling career at Jim Beam where he worked his way through multiple production roles, gaining hands-on experience across the distilling process. Since joining Bardstown Bourbon Co. in 2016, his knowledge of every stage of whiskey production has made him essential to Lofted Spirits' growth - developing Bardstown’s signature High Wheat bourbon, pioneering small-batch experiments, and driving distilling innovation for Lofted Custom Spirits clients, including expanding beyond American Whiskey to distill a range of spirits, including rum.
“Nick’s background, including his tutelage under Steve, makes him perfectly suited for his new role as Master Distiller. Nick played a crucial role in taking Lofted Spirits to the largest distiller of contract spirits in Kentucky,” said Mark Erwin, CEO of Lofted Spirits. “He brings equal parts operational precision and creative experimentation to this role, and we’re excited to see where Nick takes us as we continue to think differently about what’s possible in this space.”
In his new role, Steve Nally will continue to serve as an ambassador of Lofted Spirits and Kentucky Bourbon across the United States along with his wife Donna, who is also a Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member.
“Nick and I have worked closely together for the past decade, and I have no doubt he can take on this role and expand upon the work we did together while continuing our hallmarks of transparency, trust, and partnership,” stated Nally, Master Distiller Emeritus.
Nally has spent more than 50 years in the distilled spirits industry, including a long tenure at Maker’s Mark where he rose to Master Distiller before leaving to help launch Wyoming Whiskey. When Nally returned to Kentucky, he joined Bardstown Bourbon Company as employee number one. Together with Smith, Nally helped shape Bardstown Bourbon Co. into one of the most innovative and technically advanced distilleries in the United States.
That growth has led to the filling of the one millionth barrel produced at Bardstown Bourbon Co. since it began distillation in September 2016. Employees will celebrate this milestone, along with Smith’s elevation, at an internal event later this year.
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ABOUT LOFTED SPIRITS
From bespoke bourbon production to boundary-pushing brands, Lofted Spirits is where tradition meets transformation. Expanding on the work started by Peter Loftin in 2016, and today the number one producer of Kentucky contract whiskey, and the 7th largest supplier of American Whiskey, Lofted Spirits pioneered a world-class, industry-shaking approach to custom contract distillation while developing some of the fastest-growing brands in American Whiskey, Bardstown Bourbon and Green River. A unified entity, Lofted Spirits is built to lead the global spirits industry, delivering exceptional experiences through innovation, trust and transformative industry impact while crafting some of the world’s most desired and awarded whiskies. Lofted Spirits joined the PPC family of companies in 2022. Learn more at LoftedSpirits.com.
Steve Nally is assuming the role of Master Distiller Emeritus. Nally has spent more than 50 years in the industry and is a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.
Nick Smith has been named Master Distiller for Lofted Spirits. In his new role, Smith will be responsible for production at Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River Whiskey and Lofted Custom Spirits.
LONDON (AP) — Hot on the heels of Cannes and Venice, it's London's turn to shine and roll out the red carpet for this year’s crop of buzzy films and international stars.
The 70th London Film Festival, which opens Wednesday, will feature a mix of award hopefuls and world premieres over 12 days of screenings and events, with actors including Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Cynthia Erivo, Robert Pattinson, Jenna Ortega and Sebastian Stan expected on red carpets in coming days.
Theater is in the spotlight as Simon Stone’s “Elsinore,” a biographical drama on actor Ian Charleson’s final performance, starring Olivia Colman and Andrew Scott, opens the festival.
Scott said it was “incredibly cool” to have the film open the festival on London's Southbank, "because where the screening takes place tonight is literally 30 seconds away from the National Theater where the movie is set. So that is very, very special and all the gang will be there.”
Meanwhile, Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy “The Debut" closes proceedings on Oct. 18. The film stars Julianne Moore as a housewife whose casting in a community theater production turns her into a method actor.
Two animated films are debuting at the festival.
Stop-motion animated fantasy film “Wildwood” from Laika, about two teenagers who get lost in a magical forest, will have its world premiere. The feature, starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Carey Mulligan, Awkwafina and Jacob Tremblay. is one of the most anticipated titles to be shown.
Another animation, Brad Bird’s neo noir animation “Ray Gunn," which follows the adventures of a small-time detective voiced by Sam Rockwell and a pop singer played by Scarlett Johansson, will also have its debut premiere at the festival.
Other highlights include Venice Film Festival hit “Wild Horse Nine," for which John Malkovich got the Volpi Cup for best actor for playing a dying CIA operative. Malkovich and co-star Sam Rockwell hope to continue the buzz for the dark political comedy in London Friday.
Luca Guadagnino’s “Artificial” turns to Silicon Valley, with Andrew Garfield portraying OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman during the company’s rise and turmoil after he was kicked out of the company.
Danny Boyle’s “Ink" is a prominent British entry starring Guy Pearce as Rupert Murdoch. Elsewhere, Taika Waititi’s adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Klara and the Sun” features Jenna Ortega as an artificial companion seeking a home.
Robert Pattinson brings his portrayal of “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen in “Primetime” to London audiences, while James Gray reunites Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver on screen for his crime drama “Paper Tiger.”
For international cinema, the festival includes the Cannes sensation “La Bola Negra” from Spanish co-directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, about the lives of gay men in Madrid. South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong brings “Possible Love” fresh from its run in Venice, while Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev will show thriller “Minotaur.”
The 70th edition combines major premieres with an international competition, as well as television features. They include Michael Winterbottom’s “The Trip to the Northern Lights,” reuniting Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, and Marvel’s new series “VisionQuest” starring Paul Bettany and James Spader.
Ten films compete for the festival’s best film award. Contenders include Hirokazu Koreeda’s “Look Back,” Carol Morley’s “7 Miles Out” and Sergei Loznitsa’s “Imperium.” Separate awards recognize documentaries, first features and shorts.
The festival also extends beyond London with 10 partner venues across the United Kingdom, so audiences can watch some of the line up at cinemas across the country.
Plenty of stars will make more than one gala appearance.
Johansson has “Ray Gunn” and “Paper Tiger,” which both premier on Saturday. Her “Ray Gunn” co-star Rockwell is also in “Wild Horse Nine.”
Spanish superstar couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem each has two movies, including one in which they acted together, Florian Zeller’s “Bunker.”
Then Cruz will support “La Bola Negra” and Bardem will be on the red carpet for “The Beloved.”
There’s also a selection of screen talks from the likes of Erivo, Sofia Coppola and Ava DuVernay.
While most of the films have already been shown at other festivals, the London event is more of a festival for the people, with public screenings a big part of its appeal.
General ticket sales opened Sept. 17, and young people can apply for discounted tickets, Many screenings have sold out, though additional tickets may be released.
The festival runs Oct. 7 to Oct. 18 and includes 251 titles from 88 countries, spanning feature films, shorts, television series and immersive works.
Screenings are spread across BFI Southbank and other London cinemas. Intrepid fans can catch a glimpse of their idols from the top of the main venue's staircase and balconies overlooking the red carpet.
Olivia Colman poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere for the film "Elsinore" as part of the London film festival in London, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Billie Piper poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere for the film "Elsinore" as part of the London film festival in London, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Andrew Scott, from left, Olivia Colman, and Billie Piper pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere for the film "Elsinore" as part of the London film festival in London, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
