I’ll be the first to admit, going to a new-age, craft bourbon distillery for the first time, I had my reservations. Bourbon has a deep, rich history in Kentucky. Most bourbon distilleries trace their roots back several generations, trading secret family recipes down the line. So when there is a new player in town, most folks take a “wait and see” approach. We decided to take a detour from the traditional, big name bourbon brands and hop on the Craft Bourbon Trail for once. We made this decision mostly out of convenience and an urge to venture off the beaten path.
Jeptha Creed – The Land of Craft Bourbon, Bloody Butcher Corn, Distillery Cats, & PawPaw Brandy
You see, we were headed north, back home to Detroit after another great weekend in Lexington, Kentucky. Angela’s dad spent the weekend with us cheering on his beloved Toledo Rockets against Angela’s Kentucky Wildcats. Let’s just say I was happy the side I’m married to won! My father-in-law was looking to make it back to Toledo with a new bottle of bourbon for his collection. None of us had been to Jeptha Creed before and it happened to be relatively close to Lexington, just off the freeway in Shelbyville, Kentucky. We could make a quick pit stop to mark the end of another weekend adventure. If you are making a trip between Lexington and Louisville, this is a perfect stop. This ended up being one of the best decisions we made that weekend.
At First Glance
Jeptha Creed, like most distilleries, offers a basic tour and tasting for only $10. The tours last roughly an hour and depart from the gift shop. We purchased our tour tickets at the main entrance. Like most visitors, we wandered around the gift shop as we waited for our tour to start. Their collection of knick knacks and souvenirs is on par with the larger distilleries, in my opinion. Clothing, barware, cookbooks, and of course, booze fill the room. Angela spotted a red shirt folded neatly on a shelf. Somehow I instantly knew my wallet was about to be $25 lighter after this tour.
Besides being a craft bourbon distillery, what makes Jeptha Creed different?
The tour started and we made our way through their outdoor bar area to the production facility. Our tour guide threw a quick video on the projector. However, Angela and I are quickly distracted by a large playpen full of adorable cats. We learned that some of the cats are named after bourbon ingredients: Rye, Barley, & Wheat. The cats mostly sleep during the day as visitors make their rounds. At night, the cats are free to roam the facility as they perform “pest control” services for the distillery. They really reminded us of our own cat back home, Lexington!
We learned that Jeptha Creed is unique in many ways. For starters, Jeptha Creed is 100% women owned! The co-owners are a mother daughter team making great strides with their dream of owning and running a successful distillery. They wanted to start this new bourbon company…even though they heard it was a whiskey business! Ok, no more dad jokes! The mom has a background in chemistry while the daughter has marketing experience. There are very few female master distillers and owners in the bourbon world. With bourbon growing in popularity among all populations, Jeptha Creed is showing us that bourbon is no longer just for the boys! These ladies started with a dream and a special ingredient of their own…
BLOODY BUTCHER CORN!
Yes, I said Bloody Butcher Corn. While most bourbon is produced with yellow corn, the ladies of Jeptha Creed are using a bright red, heirloom corn grown on their family property. While the distillery is only a few years old, the family farmland goes back several generations. Our tour guide passed around an ear of the bright red corn for us to see. At first, it looks like someone left the ear in a vat of red Kool Aid. This is definitely not what I was expecting.
Fun Fact
Jeptha Creed is experimenting with other varieties of heirloom corn. While we were there, they just finished putting a new experimental whiskey in a barrel. This new creation was created with a mash bill of red, white, and blue corn to honor America. How cool is that? If you were a veteran of the United States military, you were able to sign the barrel.
The rest of the tour was a generic tour of their equipment and copper stills. They have a large still and huge stainless steel vats they use for mass production just like all the other distilleries. They also have a small still that they use to try new experimental spirits on. There is a shelf filled with bottles of fun, but failed experiments. There have been a few experimental spirits that have actually made it to production and on to their shelves. The most unusual is their PawPaw Brandy.
What is PawPaw?
Prior to our trip to the distillery, I had never heard of a PawPaw and neither had Angela or her dad. It sounds like someone wanted to name a piece of fruit after their beloved grandfather or something like that. We quickly learned that a PawPaw is a fruit native to North America and resembles a mango. The guide described the flavor of the fruit as a mix between a mango and a banana. Most people have never experienced this rare fruit because it is best right off the tree and has a very short shelf life. However, the squad at Jeptha Creed happens to grow their own PawPaws right there on their Willy Woka-esque farm.
The Coveted Post-Tour Tasting
Our tour concluded in the back of the gift shop area with a tasting. We were given the option to sample several of their spirits from fruity moonshines and vodkas to the Bloody Butcher Bourbon and PawPaw brandy. The tour guide will walk you through all the different options and answer any questions you might have. Angela and I do not drink vodka, but I thought I’d try some of the moonshines they had. Surprisingly, I was a fan of their Apple Pie Moonshine. It was a sweet, fall drink that reminded me of apple picking and cider mills in Michigan.
Next up was the one-of-a kind tropical brandy. One sip and I knew the brandy wasn’t for me. Simply put, I am not a fan of mangos, so this was definitely not something I’d drink again. However, lots of people in our tour group thoroughly enjoyed it. We considered buying a bottle as a novelty item for our home bar, but ultimately decided against it.
Tasting Notes
We came to try the bourbon and I really hoped we would come away with a bottle for home. The first thing I noticed was the clear, patterned bottle. It was actually a very clean cut design, beautiful labeling, and topped with a cork and wood stopper. I can see the owner’s marketing background in full force. The guide poured the sample and I was definitely eager to give it a sip. It immediately distinguishes itself from other bourbons on the palette. To me, it was a bit spicy – almost like a black pepper spice and maybe a bit smokey. It is a strange taste, but strange in a good way. Overall, a this is a solid bourbon. I would rank it as a middle tier bourbon. Something I would buy and drink on occasion. A fifth will run you about $50, but I think the price is justified.
Overall Experience
At the end of the tour and tasting, the three of us made our way to their bar for one last drink and some lunch. We all ordered the tomato soup and grilled cheese and relived our experience. Would we go back? Absolutely! This was a great experience and introduction into the world of craft bourbon. This is a must do for lovers of all things bourbon. I wouldn’t plan an entire trip around this stop, but I would suggest this place to Kentucky travelers looking for something off the beaten path. Before we walked out the door and hit the road, Angela’s dad bought 2 bottles of the Bloody Butcher Bourbon and a cigar, while we bought our own bottle and the shirt for Angela. I don’t think it’s possible for us to visit Kentucky without coming home with a new bottle of bourbon!
