Rob Samuels

Rob Samuels is an eighth-generation whisky maker and managing director of Maker's Mark. He has led the iconic Kentucky-based brand since 2010.

During Rob’s tenure, he has led a dramatic expansion of Maker’s Mark that stays true to the vision of his grandparents, Bill Sr. and Margie Samuels, who founded the brand in 1953. Rob has continued an unwavering commitment to quality, culture, and working toward a higher purpose as new generations of whisky enthusiasts are introduced to the brand around the world. He has introduced double-gold award-winning expressions to the portfolio, including Maker's Mark Cask Strength and Maker's Mark Cellar-Aged, as well as Maker's Mark Private Selection, the brand's custom barrel program.

Rob's commitment to sustainability has transformed Maker's Mark into an industry leader. The distillery achieved B Corp certification under his leadership and became the world's first to receive Regenified Tier 2 certification. Today, Star Hill Farm, home to the distillery, operates as a zero-waste facility and features cutting-edge grain research, the world's largest white oak tree repository, and LEED-certified buildings. In 2024, Maker’s Mark was awarded Fast Company’s Best Workplace for Innovators in Sustainability and became the first brand ever to receive the Henry Ford Carver-Carson Society Award for significant impacts in agriculture and the environment.

Rob also has directed the transformation of the distillery’s central campus into an immersive, culturally rich experience, an endearing and sustainable homeplace for the brand. Considered by many as the birthplace of bourbon tourism, the distillery grounds feature stunning contemporary art, including the first permanent Dale Chihuly installation in Kentucky, and celebrates cocktail and culinary innovations inspired by the environmental stewardship practiced at Star Hill Farm.

Giving back to the community is a passion of Rob’s. He has raised millions of dollars for worthy causes supporting charities ranging from the arts and education to assistance for service industry workers and the thoroughbred racing industry. He has served on a variety of boards including the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the fourth generation of the Samuels family to do so.