A defamation lawsuit filed by a former Bardstown Bourbon Company executive against a whistleblower has been dismissed, marking a legal win for the defense in an ongoing dispute tied to allegations of workplace misconduct at the Kentucky distiller.

Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Julie Kaelin dismissed the case on June 12, according to court records reported on by the Lexington Herald-Leader. The lawsuit had been brought by former Bardstown Bourbon Co. Chief Commercial Officer Herb Heneman.

The court also ordered Heneman to pay court costs to former human resources vice president Sylvia Sanders, who had been named in related allegations.

Heneman's lawsuit stemmed from claims that statements included in Sanders' separate discrimination lawsuit against the company were false and damaging to his reputation. He was not a party to that underlying case.

Sanders previously filed a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit in Nelson County Circuit Court, accusing Bardstown Bourbon Company, its parent Lofted Spirits and several associated executives and investors of gender discrimination and retaliation.

In that filing, Sanders alleged she was fired after raising concerns internally about workplace conduct and broader patterns of bias against female executives.

Her complaint also referenced prior internal allegations involving Heneman, including claims that a former marketing director described him in complaints to management and that other employees raised concerns about his behavior....

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