Bourbon was born right here in the heart of Kentucky. Steeped in charred oak barrels in the ideal climate of Kentucky’s hot summers and snowy winters; the tradition carries on today, almost entirely unchanged.
In 2012, Steve Thompson, Chris Miller and Mike Loring came together with an idea to create a place for people to come and ‘bottle their dreams’ in the old Crestwood, Kentucky Ice Cream Distributors, Inc. building. Steve’s many years of experience in the spirits industry played a big role in the inspiration and power behind the Kentucky Artisan Distillery concept. It would be the first contract distillery in Kentucky, and the only production sized farm-to-bottle distillery capable of distilling as little as one barrel for a special occasion on up to over 1,800 barrels a year for partners like Jefferson’s Reserve. They would do this using only pot stills, and running the distillery by hand.
As bourbon has gained popularity in recent years, things have changed a little bit. The Jefferson’s brand has grown, and has adopted Kentucky Artisan Distillery as its official home. We take great pride in being the home to this innovative brand, which still stays true to the rich heritage and tradition of bourbon. This is why KAD is the perfect home for Jefferson’s. We still produce every drop of bourbon completely by-hand.