Introducing Eaves Blind: A Premium, Collectible Bourbon Series by Marianne Eaves
St. Augustine Distillery is proud to be included in the Eaves Blind Series curated by Marianne Eaves, one of the most esteemed tastemakers in the beverage industry and the first female master distiller in Kentucky. Eaves crafted this collectible bourbon series in partnership with eight of the most-awarded craft distilleries in America to showcase seven of the nine regions of American bourbon.
The Eaves Blind Series explores four essential aspects of bourbon production: grain and mashing, fermentation, distillation, and maturation. The sleek, matte black bottle design invites bourbon aficionados to use their nose and palate to explore each unique pour, and dispel any preconceived notions of color indicating age, quality, or region.
The entire Eaves Blind Series portfolio is available for purchase on the Eaves Bind website, and St. Augustine Distillery fans can find our exclusive expression from the series in our retail shop on Saturday, May 28th, while supplies last.
photo by:The Malicotes
About Marianne Eaves
Growing up in Kentucky with a passion for science and creativity, Marianne Eaves seemed poised for a career in spirits. Eaves enrolled at the University of Louisville to study Chemical Engineering, following a lifelong calling toward the STEM fields. At the end of her first year, she accepted an internship position with the Brown-Forman company, a decision that would kick start her meteoric rise to the top of the spirits industry.
Eaves began her journey in the research and development department, becoming deeply familiar with each aspect of the whiskey-making process. Her scientific background helped her understand the chemical reaction that turned grains and yeast into spirits, and she soon became familiar with the analytical tests and daily operations of the plant. Upon graduating in 2012, she earned a full-time position at Brown-Forman and was quickly promoted to Associate Process Research Engineer.
Eaves’ new role gave her the opportunity to pursue a new dimension of whiskey-making: innovation. She experimented with new technologies, filtration, and processing methods, collaborating with the brand team to introduce new products and enhance operations for existing ones. Her keen knowledge of whiskey and knack for creativity saw her flourish as a young professional and quickly made her a household name.
Soon thereafter, Eaves received one of the industry’s highest distinctions: the opportunity to become a Master Bourbon Taster. Becoming a Master Taster demonstrated Eaves’s holistic mastery of whiskey, earning her a spot on the prestigious Forbes 2015 Food & Drink 30 Under 30 list.
Eaves’ next project would involve the reclamation of a piece of Kentucky bourbon history: Castle & Key. Her move to Castle & Key in early 2015 historically made her the first female Master Distiller since prohibition, shattering a glass ceiling for women everywhere and cementing herself as a star in the spirits industry. Eaves helped Castle & Key develop the infrastructure for their distilling operation and oversaw production of the very first barrels in Castle & Key history, for which she was recognized as Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers. At the same time, she began to discover more about her own interests and hone her legacy within the tight-knit spirits community.
Over her four years there, Eaves helped Castle & Key ascend from an upstart distillery to a mainstay in the craft spirits scene. In May 2019, she announced her departure from the company to focus on her own brand, Eaves LLC. As a result of her evolution as a distiller, businesswoman, and bourbon ambassador, Eaves now serves as a Consulting Master Distillery for craft distilleries across the country.
Read on for an exclusive conversation with Marianne Eaves!
photo by: The Malicotes
A Conversation with Marianne Eaves
Thank you so much for joining us! Let’s start with your first experiences with Bourbon. What was your relationship with it before it became your career?
My first experience with bourbon was, from the best I can remember, a bottom shelf brand that was offered to me as a shot at a New Years Eve party. The guy who gave it to me refused to let me have a chaser and it was not a good end to that story. When I started working for Brown-Forman I still didn’t like whiskey; I drank mostly tequila and rum in the form of fruity cocktails, but I was determined to learn how to evaluate it so I really knew if I was successful in my job (making bourbon).
Tell us a little bit about your internship with Brown-Forman. What were some of your daily duties and how did they influence you towards working in spirits?
At Brown-Forman I worked on their entire portfolio. Becoming involved in process, product improvement, and innovation projects really got me intimately acquainted with what it took to make world-class spirits, but primarily whiskey.
Who were some of your mentors in the spirit industry?
Jeff Arney, Chris Morris, and Conor O’Driscoll are some that you may have heard of. And there are many others that were “behind the curtain” doing incredible work in spirits that shaped my career.
What does it mean to you to be the first female Master Distiller in the state of Kentucky?
It still stuns me that I was the first woman to take the title. I am so grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on women succeeding in spirits and representing the future of the industry. The future IS female after all!
It's no secret that distillation, specifically whiskey, is a male-dominated industry. What are some challenges you face and what would you say to someone experiencing those same challenges?
Most of my challenges have been overcoming the preconceived notions of folks that I encounter. It still happens in all kinds of ways even today. But when people see me, rarely does anyone guess that I’m a bourbon expert and spirits maker. So it takes some patience on my part, but usually, once they hear me speak on the topic, it’s undeniable.
Your new series "Eaves Blind" demonstrates that the art of bourbon-making is not simply confined to Kentucky. What are some traits of successful distilleries that you recognize regardless of location?
Thoughtful and passionate people are nearly always successful in making quality products no matter what category. Saint Augustine clearly loves what they do and always strives for more, which is another telltale sign.
Experience Eaves Blind For Yourself
To bring the series to life, Eaves sourced a select number of unique barrels from participating distilleries to create a blend distinct from each brand’s typical offerings. These blends were first available in limited edition Eaves Blind Tasting Kits, featuring the program’s signature matte black bottles and glencairns for a truly blind tasting experience. Now, each distillery’s individual expression is available in limited quantities by the bottle for spirit collectors to enjoy.
“This program was born out of my journey across the country before leaving my previous roles,” Eaves writes. “My ‘a-ha moment’ was realizing that Kentucky makes great bourbon, but there are so many regions and distilleries outside of Kentucky that are making exceptional bourbons too.” Thus, Eaves Blind was born with the goal of broadening the palates of bourbon drinkers across the country.
St. Augustine Distillery will carry a very limited number of Eaves Blind St. Augustine Distillery Expression in our retail shop, available Saturday, May 28th while supplies last.
