On Sept. 3, Forty Creek announced the retirement of Master Blender Bill Ashburn, marking the end of a 38-year career with the business, during which he redefined whisky in Canada. An icon in the industry and a central figure in Forty Creek’s legacy, Ashburn will retire from his role at the end of December.
“For me, the pleasure of making whisky is in trying to push the boundaries, trying to do things differently and trying to find new flavours and expressions. I’ve been fortunate enough to do that with the team at Forty Creek,” said Ashburn.
Ashburn began his career in the wine industry over four decades ago, before moving to Reider Distillery in 1987, the location that would later become Forty Creek. Throughout his tenure, his relentless curiosity and pursuit of excellence pushed the bounds of what Canadian whisky could be, establishing Forty Creek as one of Canada’s most celebrated whisky brands.
A pioneer in the industry, Ashburn’s unique approach to grain-specific blending and barrel aging trailblazed a new path for the industry. In 2000, Forty Creek’s inaugural whisky, Barrel Select, launched under Ashburn’s direction, quickly became a best-selling product and set a new benchmark for quality in the industry. Ashburn’s portfolio is a testament to his creativity and mastery in the field, from the launch of Barrel Select to annual limited-time offerings and groundbreaking innovations like Confederation Oak.
Other limited-edition blends like Double Barrel proved so popular they became permanent offerings. His work has been celebrated on the national and international stages, including Canadian Master Blender of the Year and Whisky Maker of the Decade.
“Bill’s legacy is woven into every bottle we produce,” said Doug Costantini, general manager, Campari Canada. “His dedication, innovation and mentorship have left an indelible mark on our team and the Canadian whisky industry at large. We are deeply grateful for his contributions and look forward to carrying on the time-honoured traditions of craftsmanship, quality and innovation that he established within our walls.”
Ashburn’s final release as Master Blender will be unveiled later this year, acting as a tribute to his historic career and capturing the essence of his decades-long body of work. As Forty Creek ushers in a new era, the distillery remains steadfast in continuing Ashburn’s legacy, reiterating Campari Group’s commitment to the Grimsby plant and proudly producing Forty Creek in Ontario. Mentored personally by Ashburn, the innovation team will continue to push boundaries with bold, complex blends that reflect the brand’s commitment to creativity and excellence.
Meanwhile, the blending and quality teams will ensure that every bottle of Barrel Select tastes the same as when Ashburn first crafted it in 2000.
