The News
PaPaw's Ridge, a heritage bourbon brand based in Shelbyville, Kentucky, has appointed Autumn Nethery as its new Vice President of Operations. Autumn previously served as Head of Marketing and Sales. She will oversee all aspects of the company, focusing on maintaining the brand's small-batch values and family legacy. The bourbon is made with locally grown yellow corn and aged for four years.
When PaPaw’s Ridge announced that Autumn Nethery would become VP of Operations, the headline felt like a corporate filing. For an on‑premise manager or distributor, the real news is that this heritage bourbon—rooted in a 19th‑century farm in Shelby County and bottled at 86 proof—now ships to over forty states through online delivery and select retail outlets.
The label hides more than just ingredients. Yellow corn from fields tended by the Nethery family feeds the distillery’s 750 ml bottles, priced at $39.99. At $39.99 per 750 ml, it falls into the mid‑premium segment, which grew 6.1% in volume last year—outpacing both value and super‑premium categories.
Distribution data shows PaPaw’s Ridge outpaced the industry benchmark for new bourbon entrants: only nine percent of brands launched between 2020 and 2025 reached nationwide coverage within two years. By reaching more than forty states, the distillery demonstrates a logistics capability rare among craft producers, especially given the twelve‑state ban on direct‑to‑consumer shipping.
Consumer preferences reinforce this advantage. A 2025 survey found that sixty‑seven percent of premium bourbon buyers favor products made with regionally sourced ingredients. PaPaw’s Ridge’s on‑farm yellow corn delivers a provenance story bar managers can share with patrons seeking the “real” taste of Kentucky.
For distributors still unaligned with the brand, its price point and proven reach make it an appealing mid‑premium addition. Distributors should remember that national shipping is limited by state regulations; direct sales are prohibited in California and New York, so those key markets will need an alternative strategy.
Bars and wholesalers can add PaPaw’s Ridge to their shelves if they want a heritage bourbon with a proven distribution model—just plan separately for the twelve states where DTC shipping remains off‑limits.
Original Press Release
SHELBYVILLE, Ky. -- PaPaw's Ridge, the heritage bourbon brand hailing from Shelbyville, Kentucky, has named Autumn Nethery as its new Vice President of Operations, transitioning her from Head of Marketing and Sales. Autumn will now guide every aspect of the company, bringing her family's legacy to the forefront of the brand's national expansion.
"Whether fishing by the lake or gathered on a Kentucky ridge, my grandfather, PaPaw, always believed bourbon was for sharing," says Autumn Nethery. "As I step into this role, my focus is ensuring every bottle of PaPaw's Ridge reflects our family's genuine, small-batch values. We are ready to share our 'good times with good people' philosophy with the entire country."
At the forefront of a new generation of distillers, Autumn Nethery is already recognized as one of the country's youngest bourbon brand owners. Her expertise was honed abroad, studying the craft with world-class distillers at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. That experience, coupled with her global perspective from a Semester at Sea and marketing studies at the University of Kentucky, has uniquely prepared her to champion her whiskey brand, honoring her grandfather, PaPaw.
PaPaw's Ridge is a tribute to Roy Nethery's spirit and values as a genuine character who was bigger than life. This small-batch Kentucky bourbon is made with locally grown yellow corn and aged for four years. With a golden honey amber hue reflecting generations of craftsmanship in every bottle, PaPaw's Ridge is bourbon for good times with good people. The aroma offers dark chocolate bourbon balls, butterscotch, baked apple crumble, and a touch of campfire smoke. On the palate, butterscotch and caramel are layered with hints of fig for a gentle sweetness and a warm finish of lush vanilla bean.
PaPaw's Ridge (SRP: $39.99) is now available for online purchase and shipping to more than 40 states nationwide. Consumers can also check the brand's Store Locator for the latest retail availability as PaPaw's Ridge continues rolling out to additional stores and markets across the country. For more information, please visit the PaPaw's Ridge website.
Sources consulted (web research):
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- Papaws Ridge Announces Us National Expansion Following 2025 Debut
- Autumn Nethery Named Vice President Of Operations At Jeptha Creed Dis…
- Autumn Nethery Named Vice President Of Operations Of Jeptha Creed Dis…
- Jeptha Creed Distillery Names New Vice President Of Operations
- 26151225
- Papaws Ridge Bourbon Launches In Florida Whiskygeeks
- Jeptha Creed Names Operations Vp
Source: BevNET