Neeley Bourbon: A Hidden Kentucky Distillery Worth the Stop
An Unexpected Stop Near Louisville Led To a Fun Tasting, Great Bourbon, and a Memorable Experience at a Kentucky Distillery.
How did I miss this?
A tasting at Neeley Family Distillery
Kentucky Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 117 proof
4360 KY-1130, Sparta, KY 41086
The Tale
I was on my way to a client about an hour outside Louisville (and about an hour outside Cincinnati too!) when I noticed the Neeley Family Distillery, a family-owned Kentucky distillery. How had I missed it before? I’ve driven by so many times and only just noticed it now. Maybe this was just meant to be!
After finishing up with my client across the Ohio River in Indiana, I headed straight back to the Neeley Family Distillery in Kentucky, just a few minutes away, to check out some of the Neeley Bourbon.
What is Neeley Family Distillery?
When I arrived, I noticed a big silver tank by the parking lot with a bold black label that said “SOUR MASH TANK.” There was a long front porch with wooden rocking chairs, a sign for “Cigars,” an old Chrysler, and bourbon barrels. My kind of place. I felt right at home.
This Kentucky distillery, which I somehow overlooked all these years, turns out to have been in business a long time. Like distilling Moonshine, Bourbon, and Absinthe during Prohibition LONG TIME! Roy and Royce Neeley, tenth and eleventh generations of Neeleys, are the ones who brought the distillery and their family recipe to us today.
Sour Mash Tank
Sign at entrance- Bottles of Neeley’s Wormwood Absinthe
Now the Neeley Family Distillery operates legally and makes over 20 different spirits, including Bourbons, Whiskeys, Moonshine, Moonshine Creams, and even Absinthe. Have you heard of “non-chill-filtered”? This is the method used by Neeley Bourbon for all its spirits. Non-chill filtering means the spirit is not cooled before filtering, which helps to better preserve its natural flavors. As a result, the bourbon has a richer and more complex taste.
The Experience
The Tasting
When you walk in, you can sit at the bar and order a tasting. They hand you a list, and you pick eight. Once you’ve made your choices, the tasting and a bit of history begin. You hear the story behind each spirit and can ask as many questions as you want. The experience was interactive and fun, and the host was knowledgeable and clearly passionate about what he shared. It made for a fantastic visit.
- Kentucky Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 117 proof
- Char bits in the bottom
- The list of pours available for tasting
What was on my list of 8? (See the full list here.)
- Wheated Bourbon
- Rye Bourbon
- Neeley 5 Year Wheated Small Batch 94 Proof
- Hidden Barn Madeira Finish
- The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Portuguese Madeira High Rye Bourbon, Finished for 8 months, 103 proof
- The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Portuguese Neeley’s Kentucky Brandy Finished Wheated Bourbon, Finished for 33 months, 103 proof
- The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Portuguese New Toasted French Oak High Rye Bourbon, Finished for 12 months, 110 proof
- Neeley’s Wormwood Absinthe
If you’re visiting with someone, have them choose eight different samples so you can try sixteen together.
Bottle Your Own Bourbon
I wanted the full experience, so I bought a bottle of Kentucky Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 117 proof, and even got to bottle it myself with a little help. It came with bits of char, those tiny black flakes from the charred barrel. You can bottle your own bourbon, make the labels, put them on the bottle, and even name your bourbon.It was such a fun experience, packed with a lot of laughs.
- Bottling my own bourbon
- Bottling my own bourbon
- Filling out the labels for my bourbon
My suitcase was a bit heavier on the way home because I also packed a bottle of Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Madeira casks, 99.9 proof.
The Bar
- The front of Neeley Family Distillery
- An Old Fashioned on a picnic table outside
- Inside Neeley Family Distillery
You can visit the bourbon bar located near the front entrance. There, you can order an Old Fashioned or any other drink of your choice made with their spirits. Feel free to take your drink out to the porch or patio to enjoy. It’s a wonderful way to conclude your visit.
What Else?
You’ll find them in Sanders, Kentucky, off I-71 at Exit 55 (Vevay), just past the Kentucky Speedway on the right. It’s about an hour from Louisville.
They offer a distillery tour, but I didn’t have time to take one on this trip.
The bourbon was great, the people were friendly, and the whole experience was a lot of fun.
I accidentally left my sunglasses behind, and they even shipped them back to me. I offered to give them my FedEx number, but they said no. I really appreciated that.
Neeley is officially part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.
If you like finding places that feel less touristy and more personal, make time for Neeley Bourbon at Neeley Family Distillery on your next Kentucky road trip. With the tasting experience, friendly people, porch cocktails, and the chance to bottle your own bourbon, this accidental stop became one of my favorite travel surprises. Sometimes the best places are the ones you never planned to find, like Neeley Family Distillery.
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