Kentucky Artisan Distillery houses several brands of bourbon, which makes them a fantastic place to visit if you are interesting in trying several different types of bourbon in one visit. Apart from making Whiskey Row Bourbon, they presently keep busy with a brand of bourbon that’s named after the 3rd president – Jefferson’s Bourbon.
Jefferson’s Bourbon is a brand that was established in 1997 by Trey Zoeller, who is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. Even though this brand has not had any home till quite recent, over the years, they’ve had the chance to purchase some barrels of bourbon, which are pretty impressive, thereby making the brand the choice of brand loyalists. They’ve now found a home, which is at the Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood, Kentucky.
Kentucky Artisan Distillery was established in the year 2012, which was after Brown-Forman alum Steve Thompson thought about helping people “bottle their dreams.”
This distillery doesn’t only house Jefferson’s Bourbon, but it also houses Whiskey Row and Billy Goat Strut. When you go on a tour in this distillery, you’ll have the chance to taste these three blends, as well as several other varieties of Jefferson’s bourbons. The tour of this distillery is different from other craft tours in Kentucky. You will belly up to a vintage Pewee Valley bank teller window to do your tasting as you study several barrels of distinctive bourbon concoctions like the Chef’s Collaboration with Ed Lee, the famous chef, restaurateur, and TV star.
In the industry of craft distillery, Kentucky Artisan Distillery is a unique place. When you visit KAD, it’ll show you the true side of Kentucky craft distilling. This distillery is led by Jade Peterson, who is their Head Distiller. Their team of distillers operates a distillery that doesn’t make use of iPads or other technology; instead, they make use of their senses to be aware of the moment a particular batch is finished.
Their several variants of historic spirits items vary from moonshining stills and pre-Prohibition bottles to old cooperage tools to a turn-of-the-century travelling still. These pieces come right from here in Kentucky, and other parts of the world, and span from the early 18th to modern production. A number of their historical pieces are actually used in production at the KAD distillery.
KAD is one of the prettiest stops on Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. Immerse yourself into the details of the technical, chemical, mechanical, and “sensory” steps of making Kentucky bourbon whiskey the traditional way.
This is all available to see in their distillery, that is open to the public. Tours run between Monday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and on Sundays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Tours begin at the start of every hour, which is free for children, $12 for adults, and costs $6 for veterans, active military and first responders.
The environment is well decorated, it is very quaint, and a beautiful place in general. They also have a friendly staff, great distillers, awesome liquor, and a neat bottling area. You might even get a chance to sample bourbons in their hidden “speakeasy” room.
Their tour guides are bourbon experts who can guide people through their distillery and answer all questions asked about their distillery, their brands, or Bourbon in general.