A few weeks ago, I expressed my appreciation for craft distillers. While I also enjoy visiting large producers—especially when tours take us through expansive rickhouses filled with 50,000 barrels or more aging gracefully—there’s something uniquely special about the intimacy of tours and tastings at smaller distilleries. Here, monthly production is measured in tens or hundreds of barrels, rather than thousands or tens of thousands.
One of my absolute favorites is Glenns Creek Distillery. It’s always about the people. That is a belief I share in most exceptional experiences. I have a tremendous amount of respect for their employees and their passion for producing impressive labels. Many craft distillers like Glenns Creek accept visitors seven days a week, recognizing that hard work in a highly competitive bourbon landscape is key to realizing the invaluable opportunities to showcase their spirits.
Glenns Creek Distillery offers a distinctive experience. This ultra-small craft distillery produces only a few barrels of spirits each week. Guests can opt for an intimate private tour or sit at the bar to sample selections from five different labels. Tastings occur near the fermentation tanks, which are small plastic IBC totes. Regardless of your choice, be sure to make reservations in advance, as availability is limited.
Located just a couple of miles from both Woodford Reserve and Castle & Key, Glenns Creek Distillery sits along McCracken Pike and Glenns Creek, at the historic Old Crow Distillery site. The area is also home to several impressive horse farms.
When this location was chosen for a distillery in 1860, it lacked roads, electricity, and a natural gas supply. Several factors influenced the decision to establish distilleries here: its remote location away from densely populated areas, valuable farmland for growing grains essential for whiskey, and an abundance of spring water. A running creek powered mills for crushing grains, and proximity to the Kentucky River facilitated the transportation of barrels to the Ohio River, which connects to the Mississippi River in Western Kentucky, ultimately leading to the Gulf of Mexico at New Orleans. This strategic location provided open access to the East Coast and its major population centers.
At its peak, Old Crow Distillery produced around 400 barrels of whiskey each day. Like many distilleries, production ceased in the 1980s. The property was acquired by Jim Beam in 1987, primarily for its rickhouses used for aging bourbon. Distilling operations resumed under David Meier, who brought extensive experience in process engineering and Lean Consulting. In 2014, David purchased the buildings that now serve as the distillery and began distilling at this location in May 2015. He is actively restoring the site, aiming to return it to its original significance. Visitors are often pleasantly surprised when they step into the tasting area.
If you have the chance to spend time with David, you’re in for a truly unique experience. With an engaging personality, he shares knowledge that is rarely seen at other distilleries. Glenns Creek offers several excellent bourbon labels, including Cuervito Vivo, Stave and Barrel, and OCD, a nod to Old Crow Distillery. They also feature Ryskey, a rye whiskey; Captain Bonny’s Privateer rum; and S’OTIT reserve vodka. Be sure to ask David about the stories behind the labels.
Glenns Creek is open every day of the week, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it remains one of my favorite places to enjoy a flight of spirits, learn about the history of the Old Crow Distillery, and take in the natural beauty here.
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].
