B.H. James Distillers

About the Distillery

B.H. James Distillers is a small, newer distillery housed in the old fire station in Adairville, Kentucky. Owned by Shawn McCormick, the site has bottled small lots since 2022 under the names Burton James, James Lake, and Kentucky Grit. The distillery blends local family history with small-batch releases and invites guests into its Bottle Shop for tastings and purchases.

History

The history ties the modern distillery to the James family. Burton Hulon 'B.H.' James was born in 1884, returned to Adairville as an adult, and settled the family on the farm in 1919. Generations later, Shawn McCormick bought the old fire station in 2019 and began converting it into a distillery. In late summer/early fall 2022, the company launched three brands and began bottling activities. Phase 2 planned the installation of an 800-gallon distillation system and a tasting room, and in May 2024 the first bottles were bottled, including Burton James Batch 1 and James Lake Vodka.

Raw Materials and Production

Production runs in small batches. James Lake Vodka is produced small-batch from naturally gluten-free American corn, and the vodka is described as clean and crisp with a subtle sweetness from the corn. Burton James whiskeys are built as unique blends, with each batch assembled from five to seven casks comprising several American whiskey types (two bourbons, one rye, and a light whiskey). Bottling operations began in fall 2022, and the distillery plans frequent unique releases 3–4 times per year. An upgrade to an 800-gallon distillation system is planned for a later phase.

Maturation and Cask Types

The most concrete aspect of maturation is that Burton James batches are composed of multiple casks (5–7 casks per batch) with bourbon, rye, and light whiskey as components. There is no specification of exact cask types, aging times, or storage conditions in the available material.

Whiskeys

The portfolio comprises three main lines: Burton James (unique, batch-based blended American whiskeys), James Lake (small-batch vodka and several flavored variants), and Kentucky Grit (an unaged corn whiskey). The products are showcased and sold through the Bottle Shop, with Burton James presented as named batches, while James Lake covers both the base vodka and flavored variants.

Whiskey	Type / Series	Alcohol	Age	Cask & Style	Taste Profile	Status
Burton James Uniquely American Whiskey — Rookie Season: Opener (Batch 1)	Blended American Whiskey			Blend of bourbon-, rye-, and light whiskey casks (5–7 casks in total per batch)	First Burton James batch named 'Rookie Season: Opener', composed of five to seven casks consisting of two bourbon types, one rye, and a light whiskey.	Limited; Core Range
Burton James Uniquely American Whiskey — Rookie Season: Batter Up (Batch 2)	Blended American Whiskey			Blend of bourbon-, rye-, and light whiskey casks (5–7 casks in total per batch)	Second Burton James batch in the 'Rookie Season' series, labeled 'Batter Up', continues the concept of unique small-batch blends.	Limited; Core Range
Burton James Uniquely American Whiskey — Rookie Season: Fireman (Batch 3)	Blended American Whiskey			Blend of bourbon-, rye-, and light whiskey casks (5–7 casks in total per batch)	Third Burton James release in the 'Rookie Season' series, named 'Fireman'.	Limited; Core Range
Kentucky Grit Corn Whiskey — Unaged Whiskey	Corn Whiskey		Unaged		Kentucky Grit is an unaged corn whiskey, launched as part of the distillery's early product line.	Current; Core Range
James Lake Vodka — Small Batch Crafted	Vodka	40 %			James Lake Vodka is small-batch distilled from naturally gluten-free American corn; the first bottling occurred in May 2024. Flavor: described as clean and crisp with a subtle sweetness from the corn.	Current; Core Range
James Lake Citrus Solstice	Flavored Vodka				Citrus-inspired flavored variant in the James Lake line.	Current; Core Range
James Lake Tangerine Dream	Flavored Vodka				Tangerine-focused flavored variant in the James Lake line.	Current; Core Range
James Lake Summer Berries	Flavored Vodka				Berry-inspired flavored variant in the James Lake line.	Current; Core Range
James Lake Crisp Cucumber	Flavored Vodka				Cucumber-inspired flavored variant in the James Lake line, described as a 'crisp' edition.	Current; Core Range

Visit the Distillery

The public is welcome in the Bottle Shop in Adairville, where you can taste and purchase the products. The distillery notes that they are happy to show guests around and encourage arranging a visit via the contact link. Tastings and guided tours are offered by appointment; fixed opening hours are not published in the material.

Philosophy and Craft

B.H. James Distillers is built on a desire to celebrate family history and local roots. The distillery works in small batches to create unique American spirit releases, uses American raw materials, and prioritizes direct contact with the local community through its Bottle Shop and visitor activities.

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