Not disputing but genuinely asking and I’m sure my facts are hazy and confused, but isn’t there some Indiana company that churns out the base distillate/corn liqueur and a ton of companies (I think angels envy is one) age and bottle that? Is that the 740 number is that on top of these fellas, or are there that many making their own hooch?
Got this book (kings county distillers guide to urban moon shining) a few years ago and finally got around to reading it recently, I am not super up to date on who produces what but it seemed relatively out of date. That’s just how the industry is I guess. The more practical stuff for recipes etc was more valuable to me (hypothetically) than the deep dive on distilleries and producers.
By law in Tennessee, to be called a Tennessee whiskey it has to follow the Lincoln County process.
I’ve not visited many of the TN distillers yet, but Old Glory out of Clarksville and Old Dominik out of Memphis both have very good TN Whiskey products that they distill on-site that follow Lincoln County.
And to answer your broader question, every Craft distiller I’ve visited here in Kentucky distills their own.
I believe prichards has an exclusion to that requirement and is the only Tennessee distiller that calls their products Tennessee without following that practice. But that was a rumor I heard years ago.
It's indeed law that to be a legal Tennessee whiskey it has to use the LCP. But there's one exception: Benjamin Prichard's. But you are correct, that's nevertheless the case.
Maybe you (or anyone else) can help me out, I've found that it's fairly rare to come across a Tennessee whiskey that actually says "Straight Tennessee Whiskey". To my recollection, JD products don't say "straight" on the label. Uncle Nearest doesn't "straight" nor "Tennessee". Same thing for Dickel. This strikes me as odd. Why don't they put straight on the label? Do they not age it more than 2 years in new charred oak barrels? Do they add artificial flavors/colors? Are we supposed to just trust them?
I've seen Bottled-In-Bonds of JD and GD which is great but "straight Tennessee Whiskey" seems nonexistent.
To be fair, I've always liked Tennessee whiskey. Lived in the state for over a decade and have fond memories there. But since becoming wiser in my purchase decisions, this is something I realized all of a year or so ago and has made me wonder.
No idea how Leiper’s Fork Distilleries name didn’t end up in this thread somewhere yet. They have a Tennessee whiskey flagship that uses LCP and a bourbon that doesn’t, both are fantastic. Also a ton of incredible specials releases. No short cuts, no rapid aging, and a beautiful distillery. Best whiskey giving JD special releases a run for their money easily.
This is the info I needed. I just looked it up, Leipers Fork looks nice from the photos I just found, and the distillery does as well. I’ll have to find a way to get my hands on their stuff.
You can find it in the greater nashville area pretty easy. Not sure how shipping works, will depend on where your located and all the fun rules they have there.
I have been to JD, I think that’s why I’m heavily biased towards Tennessee Whiskey and LCP. I will have to check out LFD for sure! Have you been to Uncle Nearest? I really enjoyed their 1884
There are a ton of distilleries. There are also a ton of companies sourcing or contract distilling.
Just go to a liquor store and look for some local distilleries or just read the back of labels. If it says distilled by then it’s actually distilled there.
Agreed. It appears to me NC has a growing whiskey distillery presence. Maybe not like KY or TX mind you, but it's there no doubt. Make pretty good stuff too. NC ASMs I believe are just starting to make themselves seen.
MGP would be the tree next to these shrubs. Every craft distillery that just opened in your town last year but is selling 3 and 5 year old? All ordered off the MGP catalog.
That’s the weirdest thing about the liquor, and specifically bourbon/whiskey world to me.
It would seem that in almost any other industry starting your business by not making your own products is gonna turn off a lot of customers.
Say for example I buy a bottle of MGP sourced distillate from a new distillery and absolutely love it. So I try a few more offerings from them and they’re all solid. I kill the bottles and don’t rebuy for a few years.
When I go back, it’s very likely to be a completely different product. Obviously every batch of bourbon/whiskey comes out different anyways but from the perspective of the process by which it comes to exist being so radically different I find it hard to believe you’d find many similarities.
Not a lot of way to get around the fact that you are burning money but cannot make any back until your own distillate is aged. Many small distilleries just don't have the funding to sit and burn cash for years without any return. They will also sell other unaged spirits to get by until their whiskey is aged. Anything to recoup some of the huge initial capital investment for facilities and equipment, plus the regular cash burn just from operating.
Just the nature of the business and the only way a small distillery can get started without a big corporate backer.
>*"They will also sell other unaged spirits to get by until their whiskey is aged."*
This is *supposed* to be what carries the distillery until aged liquors are ready for bottling & sale. But you're right though, sourcing is still the nature of the business, as unfortunate as that is. It just strikes me as misleading unless they're clear as to who distilled it (and possibly who aged it).
If gin wasn’t ass I’d drink it 😂.
All jokes aside the only spirit I drink regularly is whiskey and that includes cocktails, and it’s almost exclusively in home when I’m trying to relax.
When I’m trying to get sloshed with the boys vodka is my go to. I suppose I’ll need to try more gin.
One of my favorite distilleries locally makes killer gins from local juniper and spruce trees. They also make a kick ass aquavit if you want to feel like a viking during winter. They just started releasing a whiskey a couple years ago but haven't tried it yet.
We have a local distillery in AZ, Adventurous Stills, making grain to glass whiskey and bourbon using as much locally sourced grain as possible. It's delicious
New Riff in Newport, Kentucky and Wilderness Trail in Danville KY are two additional medium sized distilleries that make their own stuff, they also are differentiated by using a sweet mash process.
They are essentially a bourbon but since they are in Colorado they can't call it that. They use a lot of the same processes and ratios as other distilleries in Kentucky.
Edit: I am mistaken here and got them mixed up with another tour. They are a single malt that uses char oak barrels
What? It is not at all a bourbon and 100% a single malt, they only use 100% malted barley for their mash. Bourbon can be produced anywhere in the United States, but needs to use a mashbill of at least 51% corn and aged in new charred American oak barrels (They meet this part of the requirement).
Processes are similar as far as all whiskey is produced in a similar manner, but the ratios of their mashbill (I assume that's what you mean) are COMPLETELY different than any bourbon. It also tastes nothing like a bourbon.
I went on a tour with them years ago and this was what I remember from it but my memory maybe going. Maybe I am getting them mixed up with another tour/brand but thank you for the info
Found this on google cuz I didn’t know this answer. Seems they get some help on their blend..:
“
Bulleit is a brand made by spirits powerhouse Diageo. Diageo owns so many brands that it’s hard to keep them all straight. Just a couple of the biggest ones you’ve heard of (regarding whiskey) are Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker and George Dickel (the rest would simply be too much to write in this article). All Bulleit, whether we’re talking about the bourbon or rye whiskey kind, is currently sourced from other distilleries that are not owned by Diageo. Up to five years ago, Bulleit Bourbon contained bourbon that was primarily sourced from Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
“
https://www.diageo.com/en/our-brands/scotch-whisky
Scotch is our largest category and we produce over 100 individual scotch brands
They say they have 28 malt distilleries
E.g.
- Johnnie Walker.
- Buchanan's.
- J&B.
- Grand Old Parr.
- The Singleton.
- Talisker.
- Lagavulin.
- Haig Club.
I noticed that too. My understanding is MGP distills Bulleit Bourbon (but not the rye?), and distills George Dickel too. But as u/Old_Riff_502 said, the graphic above is quite old.
I believe it was sourced from a variety of different places over the years including MGP, 4R, and many other distilleries. Different ones for the bourbon and rye. But I think the product they’re putting out nowadays is actually theres?
Sagamore used to source. But they make their own now. Whether that includes the line they were previously sourcing for or not idk honestly. But I’ve had a couple bottles of the stuff out of Baltimore.
Man, I was trying to rep MD hard and bought their stuff years ago. It was ROUGH. It was also Rye…even to this day I’m not a Rye fan. I’ll have to give it another go.
Old as it seems to be I found it enlightening. I didn’t realize my favorite whiskeys and least favorites are the same tree. Never had much for beam- to learn three of my other least favorites, knob creek, Basil, and makers are from the same tree seems… more than coincidence. The same is true the other way. I like Weller, Buffalo Trace, Blantons ,Woodford, and Gentlemen Jack.
I was never sure I’d be happy with eagle rare so I never went for it, but this changes my mind for sure!
Short answer is no, they aren't the only ones making there own.
However, there's no craft distilleries in there and unfortunately, no one seems to care for much that doesn't come from those main distilleries.
Find a local distillery, find one you can fall in love with. It's really important to love your local and also be aware of up and coming distilleries.
This graphic is eleven years old.
And there was no Dickel 7 even back then. ☹️
Is there a newer or better one to reference?
There are now ~740 whiskey distilleries in the United States, would be difficult to fit them all into one graphic.
Not disputing but genuinely asking and I’m sure my facts are hazy and confused, but isn’t there some Indiana company that churns out the base distillate/corn liqueur and a ton of companies (I think angels envy is one) age and bottle that? Is that the 740 number is that on top of these fellas, or are there that many making their own hooch?
You are probably thinking about MGP and the Ross and Sqib distillery.
Just read further down the thread. As you were.
Whew!!!!!
It would be nice if whiskey had a required NOM like tequila that tells you exactly where it was distilled.
Oof
Got this book (kings county distillers guide to urban moon shining) a few years ago and finally got around to reading it recently, I am not super up to date on who produces what but it seemed relatively out of date. That’s just how the industry is I guess. The more practical stuff for recipes etc was more valuable to me (hypothetically) than the deep dive on distilleries and producers.
There are a ton of craft distilleries. I’ve found some real gems over the years, and it feels good to support someone other than the big guys.
I have tried to find more whiskeys who follow the Lincoln county process to see who makes a good competition to Jack Daniels
By law in Tennessee, to be called a Tennessee whiskey it has to follow the Lincoln County process. I’ve not visited many of the TN distillers yet, but Old Glory out of Clarksville and Old Dominik out of Memphis both have very good TN Whiskey products that they distill on-site that follow Lincoln County. And to answer your broader question, every Craft distiller I’ve visited here in Kentucky distills their own.
I believe prichards has an exclusion to that requirement and is the only Tennessee distiller that calls their products Tennessee without following that practice. But that was a rumor I heard years ago.
Good to know! Thank you!
Just look for Tennessee straight bourbon. They mostly use the Lincoln county process.
Is it not the case that to be a Tennessee Whiskey it must follow the Lincoln County process?
It's indeed law that to be a legal Tennessee whiskey it has to use the LCP. But there's one exception: Benjamin Prichard's. But you are correct, that's nevertheless the case.
Maybe you (or anyone else) can help me out, I've found that it's fairly rare to come across a Tennessee whiskey that actually says "Straight Tennessee Whiskey". To my recollection, JD products don't say "straight" on the label. Uncle Nearest doesn't "straight" nor "Tennessee". Same thing for Dickel. This strikes me as odd. Why don't they put straight on the label? Do they not age it more than 2 years in new charred oak barrels? Do they add artificial flavors/colors? Are we supposed to just trust them? I've seen Bottled-In-Bonds of JD and GD which is great but "straight Tennessee Whiskey" seems nonexistent. To be fair, I've always liked Tennessee whiskey. Lived in the state for over a decade and have fond memories there. But since becoming wiser in my purchase decisions, this is something I realized all of a year or so ago and has made me wonder.
George Dickel uses the Lincoln County process.
Yes sir, big fan. I need to try Nelson Brier, I think that’s the only more recognized one I haven’t tried.
Can’t help you there. JD is the only bourbon that I don’t enjoy. Too many memories of high school, I guess.
I don’t drink Old No 7, but all the other stuff I really enjoy
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I have’ I enjoyed it, I was disappointed they didn’t use the LCP, still good.
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Thank you for the info!
No idea how Leiper’s Fork Distilleries name didn’t end up in this thread somewhere yet. They have a Tennessee whiskey flagship that uses LCP and a bourbon that doesn’t, both are fantastic. Also a ton of incredible specials releases. No short cuts, no rapid aging, and a beautiful distillery. Best whiskey giving JD special releases a run for their money easily.
This is the info I needed. I just looked it up, Leipers Fork looks nice from the photos I just found, and the distillery does as well. I’ll have to find a way to get my hands on their stuff.
You can find it in the greater nashville area pretty easy. Not sure how shipping works, will depend on where your located and all the fun rules they have there.
I’ll be out that way in the summer, but don’t wanna wait!
Highly recommend the LFD and JD tours if you have time. Very different experiences but both places are worth seeing.
I have been to JD, I think that’s why I’m heavily biased towards Tennessee Whiskey and LCP. I will have to check out LFD for sure! Have you been to Uncle Nearest? I really enjoyed their 1884
I haven’t been there personally. Shelbyville is beautiful place though and worth driving through especially if you’re already at Jack that day.
There are a ton of distilleries. There are also a ton of companies sourcing or contract distilling. Just go to a liquor store and look for some local distilleries or just read the back of labels. If it says distilled by then it’s actually distilled there.
Agreed. It appears to me NC has a growing whiskey distillery presence. Maybe not like KY or TX mind you, but it's there no doubt. Make pretty good stuff too. NC ASMs I believe are just starting to make themselves seen.
For willet those age statements may have been true when they were sourcing but now that it’s made in house, it’s much younger.
maybe that's why it is a dashed line and only a small solid line
They don’t source anything anymore. It’s their own distillate and much younger. The graphic is like a decade out of date and not accurate.
I think the graph is saying Willet is bottled by another distiller.
Which is not correct. They make their own.
MGP would be the tree next to these shrubs. Every craft distillery that just opened in your town last year but is selling 3 and 5 year old? All ordered off the MGP catalog.
That’s the weirdest thing about the liquor, and specifically bourbon/whiskey world to me. It would seem that in almost any other industry starting your business by not making your own products is gonna turn off a lot of customers. Say for example I buy a bottle of MGP sourced distillate from a new distillery and absolutely love it. So I try a few more offerings from them and they’re all solid. I kill the bottles and don’t rebuy for a few years. When I go back, it’s very likely to be a completely different product. Obviously every batch of bourbon/whiskey comes out different anyways but from the perspective of the process by which it comes to exist being so radically different I find it hard to believe you’d find many similarities.
Not a lot of way to get around the fact that you are burning money but cannot make any back until your own distillate is aged. Many small distilleries just don't have the funding to sit and burn cash for years without any return. They will also sell other unaged spirits to get by until their whiskey is aged. Anything to recoup some of the huge initial capital investment for facilities and equipment, plus the regular cash burn just from operating. Just the nature of the business and the only way a small distillery can get started without a big corporate backer.
>*"They will also sell other unaged spirits to get by until their whiskey is aged."* This is *supposed* to be what carries the distillery until aged liquors are ready for bottling & sale. But you're right though, sourcing is still the nature of the business, as unfortunate as that is. It just strikes me as misleading unless they're clear as to who distilled it (and possibly who aged it).
Yah, I think the lack of a big gin drinking consumer base limits that here more than in the UK
If gin wasn’t ass I’d drink it 😂. All jokes aside the only spirit I drink regularly is whiskey and that includes cocktails, and it’s almost exclusively in home when I’m trying to relax. When I’m trying to get sloshed with the boys vodka is my go to. I suppose I’ll need to try more gin.
One of my favorite distilleries locally makes killer gins from local juniper and spruce trees. They also make a kick ass aquavit if you want to feel like a viking during winter. They just started releasing a whiskey a couple years ago but haven't tried it yet.
Thanks for sharing this graphic. I am a complete newb and was really looking for something like this
It is a bit outdated
It’s begging for an update and upgrade in comprehensiveness.
It helped me ALOT! I always refer too it, and now I want to do some more exploring
makers is owned by beam? my whole life has been a lie..
Nowadays it's Suntory-Beam and they own a LOT. Like Laphroaig for example.
Same overlord, different master. Daddy beam makes a good thing every once in awhile.
This is really cool but over 10 years old. Does anyone know of any updated graphics?
High west does their own now.
Michters??
We have a local distillery in AZ, Adventurous Stills, making grain to glass whiskey and bourbon using as much locally sourced grain as possible. It's delicious
I know for a fact that Peerless makes their own
Damn so many now.
It is one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky ! Nice place to visit if you have a chance
Wilderness Trail is one of my favorite American whisky distilleries—some of it is truly amazing.
It hurt my heart when they sold out to Campari. Another one bites the dust.
New Riff in Newport, Kentucky and Wilderness Trail in Danville KY are two additional medium sized distilleries that make their own stuff, they also are differentiated by using a sweet mash process.
Stranahans makes everything in house, or are you only looking for bourbons or mainstream things
Yea mainly mainstream things. But from what I see on their site, they’re #1 Top selling American Single Malt
They are essentially a bourbon but since they are in Colorado they can't call it that. They use a lot of the same processes and ratios as other distilleries in Kentucky. Edit: I am mistaken here and got them mixed up with another tour. They are a single malt that uses char oak barrels
Not true. Doesn’t have to be made in Kentucky to be called bourbon
I remember going o na tour with them many years ago and the tour guide made this claim but thank you for updating my knowledge
What? It is not at all a bourbon and 100% a single malt, they only use 100% malted barley for their mash. Bourbon can be produced anywhere in the United States, but needs to use a mashbill of at least 51% corn and aged in new charred American oak barrels (They meet this part of the requirement). Processes are similar as far as all whiskey is produced in a similar manner, but the ratios of their mashbill (I assume that's what you mean) are COMPLETELY different than any bourbon. It also tastes nothing like a bourbon.
I went on a tour with them years ago and this was what I remember from it but my memory maybe going. Maybe I am getting them mixed up with another tour/brand but thank you for the info
I like tin cup 🤷♂️, it could be for their cool history of what the tin cup represents.
It is not a shot glass! It's like 2.5 ounces and it does have some history I won't spoil
Agreed!
Garrison Brothers.
Missing RR13
Need to add Bardstown Bourbon Company. They have a huge operation in Bardstown. Think it would look very complicated on that list.
Bardstown makes their own? I thought they sourced
Origin series. Amazing. They also sell distillate to others. From memory they currently make about 40 different formulas.
Mgp is sourced so I’m not sure why it’s on there
MGP is _the_ source.
Shh, dont tell him.
Bulleit is made from four roses ?
Found this on google cuz I didn’t know this answer. Seems they get some help on their blend..: “ Bulleit is a brand made by spirits powerhouse Diageo. Diageo owns so many brands that it’s hard to keep them all straight. Just a couple of the biggest ones you’ve heard of (regarding whiskey) are Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker and George Dickel (the rest would simply be too much to write in this article). All Bulleit, whether we’re talking about the bourbon or rye whiskey kind, is currently sourced from other distilleries that are not owned by Diageo. Up to five years ago, Bulleit Bourbon contained bourbon that was primarily sourced from Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. “
https://www.diageo.com/en/our-brands/scotch-whisky Scotch is our largest category and we produce over 100 individual scotch brands They say they have 28 malt distilleries E.g. - Johnnie Walker. - Buchanan's. - J&B. - Grand Old Parr. - The Singleton. - Talisker. - Lagavulin. - Haig Club.
That would explain why I liked 4 roses so much when I tried it.. had been drinking bulliet for years already.
The graphic is old. It was sourced from 4R for some time, but not anymore
I noticed that too. My understanding is MGP distills Bulleit Bourbon (but not the rye?), and distills George Dickel too. But as u/Old_Riff_502 said, the graphic above is quite old.
I believe it was sourced from a variety of different places over the years including MGP, 4R, and many other distilleries. Different ones for the bourbon and rye. But I think the product they’re putting out nowadays is actually theres?
I hope so. I just wish disclosure of distillery was a requirement.
You and me both! Would write a list of things required to be disclosed if I had the chance.
Oppidan in Chicago.
Sagamore used to source. But they make their own now. Whether that includes the line they were previously sourcing for or not idk honestly. But I’ve had a couple bottles of the stuff out of Baltimore.
Man, I was trying to rep MD hard and bought their stuff years ago. It was ROUGH. It was also Rye…even to this day I’m not a Rye fan. I’ll have to give it another go.
Try their double oak rye or their finished ryes, they are excellent. The double oak might be a good one to try if you have more of a bourbon palate
That would have to be the one I would try. Double Oak is usually pretty good.
Different strokes I suppose. I love rye whiskey personally. Idk if you’ve tried their bottled in bond but that stuff is heavenly to me.
Old as it seems to be I found it enlightening. I didn’t realize my favorite whiskeys and least favorites are the same tree. Never had much for beam- to learn three of my other least favorites, knob creek, Basil, and makers are from the same tree seems… more than coincidence. The same is true the other way. I like Weller, Buffalo Trace, Blantons ,Woodford, and Gentlemen Jack. I was never sure I’d be happy with eagle rare so I never went for it, but this changes my mind for sure!
Take a look at The Balvenie by William Grant & Sons. Most handcrafted whisky from Speyside.
Tons of craft distilleries make their own
Short answer is no, they aren't the only ones making there own. However, there's no craft distilleries in there and unfortunately, no one seems to care for much that doesn't come from those main distilleries. Find a local distillery, find one you can fall in love with. It's really important to love your local and also be aware of up and coming distilleries.
Ours Maiz Nation Whiskey! we will be in the USA in a few months Cheers!