Jackie Zykan Departs Hidden Barn Bourbon

Jackie Zykan, the former Old Forester Master Taster turned consultant, is stepping away from Hidden Barn Bourbon. Zykan created Hidden Barn Bourbon in 2022, in partnership with Royce Neeley and Nate Winegar. In 2024, Neeley purchased Hidden Barn from the partners, with Zykan remaining as Master Blender and Winegar as Brand Ambassador. Winegar will continue his role as Brand Ambassador and Neeley will continue production of Hidden Barn. Zykan will stay involved with the Neeley Family Distillery by supplying some of its herbs used in its award-winning Absinthe.

“I’ve so appreciated having this opportunity to work with the Neeley family and Nate, and I’m grateful for their support as I start my new agriculture venture, and also focus on my other business, Oduoak, which is a line of whiskey-based fragrances I created in 2020,” said Zykan. “Being able to supply the herbs for Neeley’s Absinthe to deepen its roots as a Kentucky-made product is something I’m really excited about.”

Neeley’s Wormwood Absinthe Verte is another award-winning spirit created by Royce Neeley, and is considered one of the best absinthes in the world, having won a platinum award from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the only absinthe in the history of the competition to reach platinum status. The base of the spirit is the Neeley Family moonshine recipe, crafted using wild-crafted Appalachian yeast.

This yeast is also used to create all Neeley Family Distillery distillates, including its Hidden Barn Bourbon.  There are no plans to make any changes to the Hidden Barn Bourbon after Zykan’s departure. In fact, the brand is growing stronger than ever, “We’re moving into our 20th state as far as distribution, with several more on the horizon,” said Neeley.  Hidden Barn is also available for sale online and at the Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Ky.