J. Mattingly 1845’s Ownership Transition
FRANKFORT, KY (July 1, 2025) – J. Mattingly 1845, a leading craft bourbon distillery, is purchasing the equity ownership of its founder, Jeff Mattingly, a descendant of distilling pioneer John Graves Mattingly. The transaction will transfer 100 percent of the company’s ownership to an investment entity controlled by Andrew Varga and Carl Cordova of Gold Corn & Co. The sale is expected to close in 90-120 days, marking a significant milestone for the Frankfort, Kentucky-based distillery.
Leadership Continuity and Innovation
Cameron Mattingly, Jeff’s son and Vice President of Production, will remain in his role, overseeing bourbon making, blending, the proprietary Double-Staved™ process, and custom bottling operations. All other employees will also retain their current positions, ensuring operational continuity. This transition builds on the distillery’s reputation for innovation, particularly its unique double-staved bourbon and custom blending experience.“We are honored and thrilled to be a partner with Jeff Mattingly and his entire team for the past two years. Together, they built on the amazing ideas Jeff conceived in bourbon production and custom bottling. Our Double-Staved™ bourbons and unmatched custom bottling experience have been a unique and exciting innovation for the bourbon industry. We wish Jeff and his wife Melissa nothing but the best as they move into this exciting new chapter in their lives,” said Andrew Varga, Gold Corn & Co.
Jeff Mattingly’s Legacy
Jeff Mattingly reflected on his journey, stating, “It’s been a passion of mine to always look at businesses in unique ways, and this has been no different with the building of the Bourbon 30 and J. Mattingly 1845 brands and distillery. Melissa and I have been proud to lead our great team for the last 15 years in building one of the most unique enterprises in bourbon distilling. We welcome Gold Corn & Co, Andrew Varga, and Carl Cordova to continue on with the Mattingly brand and continue their philanthropy working with veterans and first responders.”The distillery’s commitment to philanthropy, including special military bottlings that donate $10 per bottle to nonprofit military organizations, will continue under the new ownership.
About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery A Storied History
In 2010, Jeff and Melissa Mattingly founded It’s Bourbon 30 in their garage, launching Bourbon 30 Bourbon Whiskey in 2015. In 2017, they introduced J. Mattingly 1845, named after Jeff’s ancestor, John Graves Mattingly, whose distilling legacy began in 1845. The Mattingly family has contributed to at least nine Kentucky distilleries, with ties to iconic names like Brown-Forman, Willett, and Samuels.
Innovative Craftsmanship
Today, J. Mattingly 1845 is renowned for its custom bourbon blending experience, attracting thousands of visitors along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The distillery’s proprietary Double-Staved™ process enhances flavor by adding extra charred staves to barrels, creating rich, distinctive bourbons. For more information, visit www.JMattingly1845.com
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