I love showcasing Kentucky, and October is my favorite time for several reasons. The weather is typically spectacular, with warm days and cooler nights. Keeneland, our beautiful thoroughbred racetrack, hosts its fall meet for three weeks. The hardwoods begin to display a stunning kaleidoscope of yellows, reds, and burnt oranges. Additionally, the distilleries provide the perfect setting to enjoy cocktails, neat bourbon, and often a quality meal outside from a food truck or on-site restaurant.
This October, we hosted a large group visiting from Wisconsin, dedicating one day to bourbon. We began with a tour and lunch at Whiskey Thief, followed by a tasting at Glenns Creek, and concluded the day with cocktails by the creek at Castle & Key. Our group loved the intimate tour at Whiskey Thief, and the food truck lunch was delicious. There are plenty of tables and seating around a fire pit out back, perfect for enjoying food and drinks.
Whiskey Thief offers a unique experience compared to other distilleries. The atmosphere is relaxed in their small but vibrant operation. When I think of craft distilling, this place comes to mind. Located in rural Franklin County, just north of Interstate 64 at the Graefenburg/Lawrenceburg exit, it’s a hidden gem. They also recently opened a tasting room in the East Market District of downtown Louisville, better known as NuLu.
As you enter from the main road, the Visitors Center is on the left. While this building features a nice selection of branded merchandise, you don’t need to check in here if you have a tour and tasting booked.
The true experience awaits half a mile down the gravel road that winds through the 127-acre working Three Boys Farm. The road ends at the stillhouse, where you can witness production, see a limited number of barrels in storage, and participate in tastings directly from the barrel. Tours begin here. On cooler days, you’re likely to find a fire burning in the fire pit just outside the back of the stillhouse.
Tours cost $35 and include a tasting glass along with samples from five barrels available that day. The delicious food truck operates Thursday through Sunday from March to November. During these months, they also feature live music on both Friday and Saturday, creating a lively atmosphere when the weather is nice.
Online reviews of Whiskey Thief are overwhelmingly positive, with many visitors naming it their favorite distillery in Central Kentucky. If you particularly enjoy any of the bourbons from the open barrels, you can fill your own bottle using a copper whiskey thief—a thin tube inserted into the barrel to extract the bourbon. This makes for a fabulous memento of your trip.
During my visit, they offered tastings from four barrels of bourbon and one of rye. The ages of the five ranged from five to six years, with barrel strengths starting at 115.8 proof and ending at 121.8 proof. Each bourbon had slightly different mash bills, all including rye; wheat was absent. The rye whiskey featured a mash bill of 65% rye, 30% malted rye, and 5% malted barley. All their bourbon and ryes are uncut and unfiltered.
Their spirits are not distributed and are only available at the distillery. Their brands include Whiskey Thief Bourbon, Whiskey, and Gin.
They are open from mid-morning to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Be sure to check online to confirm these hours and book your experiences before you arrive.
Mark Meade is the author of The Bourbon Journey, a travel guide that highlights our iconic bourbon distilleries and the experience of bourbon tourism. This column serves as a natural extension of the book. All rights reserved. For questions or comments, contact the author at [email protected].
