Other
Even Kulsveen
Master distiller / blender
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
Born in Hamar, Norway, Even Kulsveen emigrated alone to the United States at 14, and that early move set the terms for a career built through labor, adjustment, and practical knowledge.
The Climb
A first stretch in the United States Merchant Marines in the United States put Even Kulsveen in a trade built on routine, discipline, and endurance. He then worked as a cook, where the demands were immediate: keep pace, stay exact, and respect the pressures of service. From there, he moved into bourbon as a broker, a role that depends not just on the liquid itself but on reading the market, the people around it, and the standards that hold the category together. That progression led to Executive Director at Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, a position he held until 2025. The title marks management, but the record behind it points to a career assembled through persistence and adaptation across several corners of the food and spirits trade. Along the way, Even Kulsveen also founded Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Ltd. (since 1984), tying his name to Kentucky bourbon history in a way that remains central to his professional identity. From Hamar, Norway, to the United States Merchant Marines in United States, to the stove as a cook, and then into bourbon brokerage, Kulsveen’s path was shaped by movement and by work that required patience. Each stage added a different form of fluency: in labor, in commerce, and in the language of whiskey. By the time he reached Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, he had already spent years doing the kind of work that supports a lasting house.
Today
In that role, Even Kulsveen sits at the point where heritage meets day-to-day stewardship, overseeing a name long linked with Kentucky bourbon. The distance between Hamar, Norway, and Bardstown, Kentucky is part of the record, but so is the fact that he came to the United States alone at 14 and went on to shape a place in American spirits.
Signature
Even's signature dishes include Willett Family Estate. The phrase is brief, but it reads as a marker of place and association. Willett Family Estate places Even Kulsveen inside the Willett Distillery context and, by extension, inside the larger Bardstown bourbon landscape that his work helped define.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Even
Where did Even Kulsveen work before?
Even Kulsveen's earlier career included United States Merchant Marines and Willett Distillery.
What recognition has Even Kulsveen received?
Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame induction (2019).
