Our journey into the world of whiskey began back in 2020, led by our curiosity and the enthusiasm of our early supporters. Our quest for excellence didn't entail a long journey—just a plane ride from San Francisco, to Louisville, KY, keeping it close to home.
When we shared our burgeoning interest with Whiskey Expert and KOKORO Advisor H. Joseph Ehrmann, he pointed us to The Spirits Group. Initially, this women-owned consulting firm ticked all the boxes on our partnership checklist. However, it was during our sit-down with co-founders Monica Wolf and Ashley Barnes that we were truly captivated by their profound passion and experience.
Monica, the managing partner at The Spirits Group, leads the charge in whiskey-related business strategy, operations, and pro forma development. Her impressive resume includes roles as a Bourbon Women and Historic Locust Grove board member and a former Bourbon Ambassador for Churchill Downs.
Beside her stands Ashley Barnes, the master blender, whose expertise in crafting whiskies to perfection is unparalleled. With a prestigious background at Buffalo Trace Distillery and Four Roses Distillery, Ashley has blended numerous award-winning whiskies. Together, Ashley and Monica serve as judges at spirits events hosted by the American Distilling Institute and American Craft Spirits Association, showcasing their deep industry knowledge and discerning palates.
“When I first started working with KOKORO, it wasn’t ‘Here’s what we have and do something with it,’ it was ‘Go have fun,’ which is one of the best things you can say to a blender,” says Barnes on the freedom she was granted to craft something unique to KOKORO.
At KOKORO, finding the perfect partner goes beyond expertise; it's about sharing a vision, something we found in The Spirits Group. With a mutual appetite for adventure, innovation, and tradition, we knew we had chosen the right duo to craft a whiskey with no requirements or limitations and one they’d be proud to share. Our Four-Grain American Whisk(e)y is the exceptional result.
“[The KOKORO Whisk(e)y] is going to take you off guard in a good way, and it’s going to make you want to come back for more,” Barnes reflects on the essence of KOKORO whiskey.
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