Ashley Barnes

03/21/2026

Busy is a relative term. The last few weeks have been nothing short of pure chaos in the best way, well mostly. Nothing ever happens in when it’s convenient. The good ol Flu B hit our house with little man first the week of birthday celebrations starting, followed by big man and then me the following week. Luckily we had been preparing and trying to prevent catching it, so our sick wasn’t quite what little man was. This was the week leading up to a marathon of speaking engagements, dinners, tastings, and bottle signings. I called up post flu and got an immune booster. Flu drains you and I did not have enough time to truly recover. I cannot recommend them enough. Not only was amazing at what she does but always great to catch up with a good friend too. I would not have been able to take the boys to a Lego art exhibit and see their cousin before she moves to another state today had I not called OMH. They will now be part of my regular routine when schedules get busy and and are firing on all cylinders and I need to as well. No one ever hydrates enough but they have so much more than just hydration!

03/16/2026

Beam Conference 2026! Come find me and say hi!

03/13/2026

Excited to present at this years James B. Beam Distilling Co. Conference this year representing The Blending House. This is always such a great time with other industry professionals getting to catch up and share knowledge. Who else is going?

03/11/2026

Finalizing my pairing notes and I am beyond excited for this dinner! Chef TJ is a magician and does wonders with every dish he comes up with! Perfectly pairs with 2 amazing EJ Curley Single Barrels and EJ Curley & Co. Small Batch. You do not want to miss this evening of amazing food and delicious pours. You get to hang out with me too!

Celebrate Women’s History Month with EJ Curley & Co. Master Blender Ashley Barnes!

Enjoy a delectable four-item tasting menu paired with exquisite spirits, savor special food and drinks available for purchase, and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of E.J. Curley and the women shaping the distillery industry.

Take home exclusive keepsakes, shop signature merchandise, and join an exciting giveaway.

🎟️ Grab your tickets now: https://bit.ly/4ul77p8

03/11/2026

So much fun!

03/09/2026

Dinner and spirits, a perfect pair! Join me this Saturday, March 14th at 6pm for an exclusive dinner and pairing with E.J Curley Small Batch and 2 exceptional Single Barrels. Chef TJ is collaborating with us for an unforgettable night. We'll have bottles available for purchase and a few surprises to make it even better. Secure your spot via the link in my Bio!

03/02/2026

Ashley and I started The Spirts Group in 2017. In 2021, we met The Koetter Group. And now, in 2026, construction is complete at The Blending House, our 108 acre property in Shelbyville, Kentucky. The blending and bottling facility is fully up and running and our website got a fresh new look. Please check it out! www.theblendinghouse.com

The Blending House is the culmination of everything - all that I learned in my 14 years in the industry and everything Monica learned from her Dad, everything shes observed over 22 years of being in and around the industry, and everything we wished existed for our own clients when we were consulting.

To my spirits industry network: we are open for business. If you need of a dependable contract bottling partner, please reach out to Monica directly or through the contact page on the website.

We can help:
•Heritage brands outsourcing high-touch, ultra premium SKUs or Single Barrel programs
•Non-distilling producer brands looking for a more reliable bottling facility or outgrowing their current facility
•Craft distilling friends who may be closing a physical location, but want to keep a SKU alive - we can step in and help carry it forward.

White glove service. Post-distillation expertise. Built by industry people, for industry people. 🥃

03/01/2026

Always great to chat with Bourbon Barrel Talk Brian Phillips and Scott. We had so much fun.Getting to chat alongside Matt King about all things The Blending House and how we got to where we are was extremely special. We are so proud of the entire team and what we have built together.

02/28/2026

Thilled to share what we have been building and our amazing team ready to do what we do best 🥃

The nature of the distilled spirits industry is changing–there is no question. As brands and craft distilleries consider how to pivot, The Spirits Group, in partnership with Indiana-based construction company The Koetter Group, is proud to announce the opening of The Blending House. The newly cons...