chaotic lines to buy bottles, but appreciated that the lines to sample whiskeys were relatively short. Complaints about flippers were common, as the industry’ s bogeymen prowled the parking lots. Due to a spike in riders, Ubers became erratic and expensive. Leaving the premises to visit nearby distilleries was a risky idea. My writer friend and I got marooned at Bardstown Bourbon Co. ourselves, and eventually bummed a ride back to the fest from two friendly retirees.
Praise for the fest outweighed the criticism. The industry may not sell as many bottles now as during the Covid craze, when folks stuck at home filled up their basement bunkers, but the energy for American whiskey remains the same among its biggest fans.
Whiskey House of Kentucky was founded in 2022 and is a large-scale distillery entirely devoted to contract distilling.
Perhaps the most hype at the 2025 KBF was for Dark Arts. Another sourced brand, this reminded me of Rare Character, with ornate branding and bold whiskeys that match the marketing. Everything I tried from Dark Arts was enjoyably big in flavor, a lineup of heavy hitters. Hard to go wrong here. And yes, this is one of those brands that boasts BuffTurkey bottles, for anyone chasing that trend.
Distilleries could sell products directly from their festival booths. Lines of folks waiting to buy rare products stretched long across the fields. When the festival gates opened each morning, VIP ticketholders flooded the grounds, racing for front spots in line. Whiskey social media was abuzz with people showing off the unicorns they had rounded up. Again, Dark Arts and BuffTurkey were among the trendiest terms.
We interviewed numerous attendees. Folks enjoyed the size of the fest and the sheer number of booths and activities to explore. Some people were disappointed with the long,
WHISKEY HOUSE OF KENTUCKY
The U. S. distilling industry has shifted, and at the forefront is the Whiskey House of Kentucky. Founded in 2022 by ex-Bardstown Bourbon executives, this 178−acre contract whiskey distillery in Elizabethtown, KY,( 50 minutes south of Louisville, 30 minutes west of Bardstown) opened last year. Already, its presence in the market is noticeable.
In the past decade,“ sourced” went from a four-letter word to an everyday term for good juice. Consumers now know which distilleries produce the best liquids for sourced brands, and specifically hunt down those bottles. For bourbon veterans, it’ s interesting witnessing this 180−degree turn in consumer sentiment.
For businessmen, it’ s opportunity. Particularly after MGP’ s questionable( and perhaps recently reversed) decision to scale back its contract distilling program a few years ago. Competitors gobbled up the available contracts. Bardstown Bourbon, designed and run as well as any distillery in history, emerged as a big winner. Expansion there continues, especially after Pritzker Private Capital acquired the thriving company in 2022.
Looking to expand on what worked at Bardstown Bourbon— and possessing capital thanks to the Pritzker buyout— several executives left to create Whiskey House. The result is likely the most efficient, streamlined distillery ever constructed.
Whiskey House welcomed media for a tour during the festival.
“ In this environment, major contract producers are focused on their own brands,” said David Mandell, co-founder, during the introductory presentation.“ Bardstown Bourbon has Green River. MGP has Luxco. Campari has Wilderness Trail. But we are nothing but custom distillation. We do not own our own brands and never will. We focus all our energy on our customers.”
“ We are the first distillery custom-built for custom whiskey production,” he added.“ We have the most flexible facility.”
This includes many possible mash bills that can run through the system without losing efficiency, Mandell explained. Such as vintage mash bills, if desired. Since opening last year, Whiskey House has produced 58 mash bills for 35
22 Beverage Dynamics • Winter 2025 www. beveragedynamics. com