J. Mattingly 1845 to Acquire Founder Jeff Mattingly’s Ownership Stake

Press Release

J. Mattingly 1845, Innovative Craft Distiller, to Purchase the Ownership Interests of its Founder Emeritus, Jeff Mattingly

Cameron Mattingly to Remain in Role as Vice President, Production 

FRANKFORT, KY (July 1, 2025) – J. Mattingly 1845 is purchasing the equity ownership of its founder, Jeff Mattingly, a descendant of distilling pioneer John Graves Mattingly. The transaction will leave 100 percent of the company’s ownership with an investment entity controlled by Andrew Varga and Carl Cordova of Gold Corn & Co. Cameron Mattingly, Jeff’s son and Vice President of Production, will remain in his role at the company overseeing all bourbon making, blending, double staving™, and custom bottling processes. All other employees will also remain in their current roles. The sale is expected to close in 90-120 days.

Leadership Reflections on the Transition

“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.

“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,” said Jeff Mattingly, founder emeritus, J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery. “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.”

About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

In 2010, Jeff and Melissa Mattingly started It’s Bourbon 30 in their garage, and in 2015 released Bourbon 30 Bourbon Whiskey. In 2017, Jeff & his team created an ultra-premium bourbon offering, affectionately named J. Mattingly, and then added the year 1845, representing Jeff’s ancestors, John Graves Mattingly & Sons Distilling. The Mattingly family is connected to some of the most prominent distilling families in Kentucky, with ancestors having a hand in the development of at least nine separate distilleries in the Commonwealth.

Today, the Mattingly innovation lives on through a custom bourbon blending and bottling experience enjoyed by thousands of consumers along the Bourbon Trail, as well as special military bottlings where $10 of every military bottle sold goes to various non-profit military organizations. For more information, visit www.JMattingly1845.com.

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