Ten lucky employees at a historic Kentucky distillery won $50K playing Powerball. Discover the story behind their group play, winning ticket, and team celebration.
It's not uncommon for Powerball winner stories to be about solo wins. But for 17 hardworking employees at the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, winning was a group effort. And a $50,000 Powerball prize made this workday one for the history books.
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the group carpooled after their shift to the Kentucky Lottery headquarters, walking into the Winners Experience Lobby with one winning ticket and a lot to celebrate.
The Birth of a Bourbon-Side Powerball Pool
“We all play the lottery,” said Chris Smith, one of the group’s members and the unofficial ticket manager. “Every week I go around, I collect money from everybody, and we got a little pool going.”
What started over a year ago during a record-breaking Powerball jackpot roll quickly became a weekly tradition. “We just kept it going, and we’ll keep it going,” Smith added.
Each member of the Powerball pool contributes regularly, with Smith buying the group’s tickets for the three weekly drawings. Most weeks, the prize was modest. “Usually, we’ll win small, like, four bucks or eight bucks,” Smith said. “Once we won $100.”
But that changed on Friday, March 21, 2025, when Smith picked up the group’s ticket at the Bardstown Walmart while grocery shopping. The next day’s drawing (March 22) matched four white balls and the big red Powerball®, earning the group a $50,000 payout.
A Powerball Winner Story for the Ages
When Smith scanned the ticket and saw the five-digit figure, he admitted the moment was surreal.
“I scanned it on the machine," Smith told officials. "Then, $50,000 showed up, and the first thing I do is look and see who is behind me,” he laughed. “Anybody see that? It felt pretty nice, you know?”
Still in disbelief, he double-checked at home with another scan on his phone, just to be sure he hadn't imagined it.
The win started to feel real when a co-worker sent him a Facebook post from the Kentucky Lottery confirming a Powerball winner in Bardstown. “And I was like, it’s got to be real,” Smith said.
Celebrating in Style at the Kentucky Lottery
Their Powerball ticket bore the lucky numbers 6 – 7 – 25 – 46 – 57 and Powerball 12. Though they didn’t win the Powerball jackpot, $50,000 was enough to get everyone in high spirits.
At Lottery HQ, Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville presented the ceremonial check. “You could tell these winners were a tight-knit group." Harville said. "And they truly enjoyed being around each other," Harville went on to say, citing how the group was joking and laughing with each other when printing their checks.
Each employee received an individual prize of $2,941 after taxes. And while the money is certainly welcome, it’s the story that they’ll be sharing for years to come.
A Team That Bottles Bourbon and Luck
The winners all work the first shift at Barton 1792 bottling bourbon, with some having been at the company for decades. The longest-tenured member has worked there for 45 years, showing just how deep the team’s bond runs.
Their story adds a new flavor to the distillery’s rich history, already known for producing award-winning bourbon. Now, it’s home to a group Powerball winner story that proves sometimes the best things really do come in bottles and numbers.
As a bonus, the Walmart where Smith bought the ticket received a $500 bonus for selling the winning slip.
Powerball Fun with a Purpose
Beyond the win, the story also highlights the impact of Powerball in Kentucky. In 2024 alone, the Kentucky Lottery paid out over $1.5 billion in prizes and has helped fund scholarships and grants for over one million students since 1999.
So, what’s next for the Barton 1792 crew? More work, more bourbon, and more chances at the next big Powerball jackpot. Because this Powerball pool isn’t retiring just yet.