Michter’s Master Distiller Pam Heilmann To Retire

Michter’s Master Distiller Pamela Heilmann’s will retire from full time work effective May 1, to be succeeded by Distiller Dan McKee, while Distillery Manager Matt Bell will become Distiller. When the 2019 bottling of Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon goes on sale this May, it will mark the final Michter’s release during Heilmann’s tenure as Master Distiller.

Heilmann became Master Distiller in October 2016, following the retirement of the company’s first Master Distiller, Willie “Dr. No” Pratt. Coincidentally, she was promoted just as that year’s 10 Year Old Bourbon was heading for market.

“After we hired Pam, she brought over Dan with her from her prior company. It quickly became apparent that he was extraordinarily talented and would someday be an outstanding Master Distiller,” said Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco. “Pam’s contributions to Michter’s have been incredible. She is a truly great distiller, and a truly great person. We’re all thrilled that she has agreed to stay on in a part-time capacity as a Master Distiller Emerita, and I know Dan and Matt will be terrific in their new roles.”

Says McKee, “I am so grateful to Pam. To work with her and learn from her has been an honor and a privilege. We will do everything we can to continue Pam’s work and pursue Michter’s goal of producing the greatest American whiskey.” After moving to Kentucky from Indiana to pursue his dream of making whiskey, McKee went to work at Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont as a Distillery Operator and later was promoted to Distillery Supervisor at Booker Noe Distillery. Prior to becoming Michter’s Master Distiller, McKee has held the positions at the company of Distillery Manager and later as Distiller.

To his new position as Michter’s Distiller, Bell brings his experience garnered at Alltech and its Town Branch Distillery as well as experience garnered at Wild Turkey Distillery, where he held the position of Distillery Supervisor. Before becoming Michter’s Distiller, Bell held the position of the company’s Distillery Manager. Michter’s senior management continues to include its Master of Maturation and Executive Vice President Andrea Wilson. She commented, “Pam has been a tremendous leader, and I’m very proud of the team we’ve put together here at Michter’s. Dan and Matt are world class distillers.”

The 2019 release of Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon will go on sale in May. It is 94.4 proof and it sells for a suggested retail price of $130 in the U.S.