Forty Creek announced the retirement of Master Blender Bill Ashburn, marking the end of a 38-year career with the business during which he redefined whisky in Canada. An icon in the industry and a central figure in Forty Creek’s legacy, Ashburn will retire from his role at the end of December. Ashburn began his career in the wine industry more than four decades ago, before moving to Reider Distillery in 1987, which would later become Forty Creek. A pioneer in the industry, Ashburn’s unique approach to grain-specific blending and barrel aging trailblazed a new path for the industry. His final release as Master Blender will be unveiled later this year, acting as a tribute to his career and capturing the essence of his decades-long body of work.