The bourbon world is mourning the loss of Even G. Kulsveen, Executive Director of Willett Distillery, who passed away this week at the age of 79.
A devoted family man and a steady leader, Kulsveen shaped the course of modern American whiskey in ways that will endure for generations.
BourbonBlog.com joins his family, friends, and the industry in mourning the death of Even G. Kulsveen—honoring his life, his work, and the enduring legacy he leaves behind.
We welcome you to share your memories of Mr. Kulsveen or of times spent at Willett Distillery in the comments below on this link. Your reflections and stories help honor his life and the legacy he leaves behind.
From Norway to Kentucky Bourbon
Born in Norway, Kulsveen made his way to the United States and eventually settled in Bardstown, Kentucky. Through his marriage to Martha Willett, daughter of the Willett family, he became tied to one of bourbon’s most historic names.
During an era when American whiskey was in decline, Even Kulsveen shouldered the family’s distilling heritage and set out to preserve it. As Willett operated under the Kentucky Bourbon Distillers name, he introduced small-batch labels such as Noah’s Mill, Rowan’s Creek, Pure Kentucky XO, and Kentucky Vintage, while sustaining long-standing family brands like Johnny Drum and Old Bardstown.
When distilling returned to the Bardstown property, Willett Family Estate Bourbon and the iconic Pot Still Reserve emerged as lasting symbols of the distillery’s rebirth
Kulsveen’s journey from immigrant beginnings to Kentucky bourbon pioneer underscored both his resilience and his belief in the spirit’s enduring value.
Resurrecting Willett Distillery
The late 20th century brought challenges for bourbon, but Kulsveen proved unwilling to let the Willett story fade. Operating under Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) during the 1980s and 1990s, he sourced and safeguarded stocks of whiskey while many distilleries around him shuttered.
His determination kept the Willett name alive during bourbon’s hardest years
In 2012, that persistence paid off when Kulsveen returned distilling to the family property in Bardstown. Working alongside his children—Britt Kulsveen, now President and Chief Whiskey Officer, and Drew Kulsveen, Master Distiller and Chief Production Officer—he oversaw the rebirth of Willett Distillery. From that moment, Willett was no longer just a name on a label but once again a living, working distillery, producing bottles that reflected both heritage and innovation.
Even Kulsveen’s Lasting Legacy
Kulsveen’s contributions extended far beyond his family. He became a pioneer of bourbon’s renaissance, ensuring that the category not only survived the industry’s lean decades but emerged stronger.
His role in the revival was recognized with his induction into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, a testament to the scope of his influence.
The Kulsveen and Willett families shared this statement:
“On behalf of the Kulsveen Family and Willett Distillery…
It is with profound and loving sadness that the Kulsveen and Willett Distillery family announce the passing of Mr. Even Kulsveen, Executive Director, Willett Distillery. Mr. Even was a loving husband, father and grandfather, alongside his late wife, Ms. Martha. He established a legacy in American Whiskey after resurrecting the Willett Distillery and became a pioneer in the renaissance of American Whiskey; helping sustain and then grow the category throughout the 1980s and 90s. In resurrecting the family and distillery legacy, he returned distilling to the family property in 2012, alongside his daughter, Britt, President and Chief Whiskey Officer of Willett Distillery and his son, Drew, Master Distiller and Chief Production Officer. At this time, please respect the privacy of the family. Additional details will be made public, as necessary.”
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