EPISODE · Dec 11, 2025 · 1H
Jersey Girl Turned Bourbon Pro with Chrissy Cortese
from Kentucky’s Wandering Realtor · host Stephon Lewis
In this episode of Kentucky’s Wandering Realtor, I sit down with Chrissy Cortese to share the story of how a Jersey girl turned bourbon pro and became a force in the Kentucky spirits world.Chrissy walks us through her journey from New Jersey to Nashville in 2006, then into Kentucky by way of weekend trips to visit her best friend in Louisville. Those early visits led her deep into the bourbon scene—from tours to Kentucky Bourbon Affair to the Bourbon Classic—long before she ever worked in the industry.We dig into her move to the Kansas City area in 2013 and her start at Gomers of Kansas, one of the largest liquor stores in the region. Chrissy shares how she climbed from the sales floor to running social media and marketing, building the store’s barrel program, and eventually becoming the whiskey and spirits buyer.From there, she talks about blogging, podcasting, and writing for outlets like Bourbon & Banter, using content to tell stories, educate, and even bring bourbon into the kitchen with her recipes.Then we head back to Louisville: managing Justins’ House of Bourbon, becoming the first Brand Ambassador for Blue Run Spirits, and what it was really like when Blue Run was acquired by Molson Coors. Chrissy also opens up about stepping away this summer, what she learned about herself outside the grind, and why joining Castle & Key as the Key Market Manager for Louisville Metro and Tennessee was the right next chapter.We also get into:The biggest mistakes new bourbon drinkers make (and what to do instead)Her most “Jersey girl in Kentucky” momentAnd her go-to Louisville food + Castle & Key pairing that’s guaranteed to start debates in the commentsIf you love bourbon, Louisville, or stories about reinventing yourself and betting on your passion, this episode is for you.Make sure to:• Subscribe for more bourbon, Louisville, and Kentucky storytelling• Comment your favorite Castle & Key x Louisville food pairing• Share this with someone who loves bourbon or wants to break into the spirits industry
What this episode covers
In this episode of Kentucky’s Wandering Realtor, I sit down with Chrissy Cortese to share the story of how a Jersey girl turned bourbon pro and became a force in the Kentucky spirits world.Chrissy walks us through her journey from New Jersey to Nashville in 2006, then into Kentucky by way of weekend trips to visit her best friend in Louisville. Those early visits led her deep into the bourbon scene—from tours to Kentucky Bourbon Affair to the Bourbon Classic—long before she ever worked in the industry.We dig into her move to the Kansas City area in 2013 and her start at Gomers of Kansas, one of the largest liquor stores in the region. Chrissy shares how she climbed from the sales floor to running social media and marketing, building the store’s barrel program, and eventually becoming the whiskey and spirits buyer.From there, she talks about blogging, podcasting, and writing for outlets like Bourbon & Banter, using content to tell stories, educate, and even bring bourbon into the kitchen with her recipes.Then we head back to Louisville: managing Justins’ House of Bourbon, becoming the first Brand Ambassador for Blue Run Spirits, and what it was really like when Blue Run was acquired by Molson Coors. Chrissy also opens up about stepping away this summer, what she learned about herself outside the grind, and why joining Castle & Key as the Key Market Manager for Louisville Metro and Tennessee was the right next chapter.We also get into:The biggest mistakes new bourbon drinkers make (and what to do instead)Her most “Jersey girl in Kentucky” momentAnd her go-to Louisville food + Castle & Key pairing that’s guaranteed to start debates in the commentsIf you love bourbon, Louisville, or stories about reinventing yourself and betting on your passion, this episode is for you.Make sure to:• Subscribe for more bourbon, Louisville, and Kentucky storytelling• Comment your favorite Castle & Key x Louisville food pairing• Share this with someone who loves bourbon or wants to break into the spirits industry
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Jersey Girl Turned Bourbon Pro with Chrissy Cortese
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