Bluegrass Distillers
Quick Overview of the Distillery
Bluegrass Distillers is a Kentucky craft distillery founded in 2012, now centrally located on Elkwood Farm in Midway. The distillery combines traditional bourbon craftsmanship with a grain-to-glass focus, its own cultivation of blue corn, and a modern production line, making the place interesting for bourbon enthusiasts and visitors alike.
History
Bluegrass Distillers started in Lexington in 2012 and built a reputation for small-batch and single-barrel Bourbons. In 2023, the company began a major expansion by purchasing and developing Elkwood Farm, a historic 62-acre property in Midway. The move included establishing production and aging facilities, an automated bottling line, and visitor areas. Elkwood Farm Distillery officially opened on June 12, 2025, at a ceremony with local officials and industry partners. Ownership lies with founders Ben Franzini and Sam Rock, and the new campus dramatically increases production capacity and makes the distillery an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Raw Materials and Production
At Elkwood Farm, production is designed as a grain-to-glass operation. The distillery grows its own grain varieties, including non-GMO heirloom blue corn, and uses limestone spring water from an on-site well in the distillation process. Production equipment includes six 18,000-gallon fermentation vessels, feeding a large 36" x 45-foot column still from Specific Mechanical, as well as a fully automated bottling line. Mash bills are clearly defined on the products: e.g., 75% corn / 21% rye / 4% malted barley for Mash Bill #1 and variants with blue corn or wheated mashbills. The distillery actively experiments with finish techniques and re-cooperating of casks as part of its distinctive methods.
Maturation and Barrel Types
The Elkwood campus contains several barrel warehouses for long-term aging. The distillery uses traditional new oak casks as well as a range of finishing approaches: toasted oak finishes, Spanish oak variants, and wine or dessert wine casks such as French Sauternes casks. The Reclaimed & Recharred program repurposes and recharreds used casks, and some rye products have undergone secondary aging in repurposed vermouth casks. These choices are used to create diverse finish profiles in the releases.
Whiskies
The portfolio ranges from exclusive single-barrel Elkwood Reserve releases to experimental rye-finish projects and blue corn bourbons. Core elements include the Mash Bill #1 series, the wheated line, and blue corn releases, while Elkwood Reserve represents the distillery’s most aged and limited bottlings. In addition, there are several Midway Series products (e.g., Midway Lot 25 and Dudley & Gratz) and experiments such as Reclaimed & Recharred, which showcase the distillery’s focus on finishes.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Dog Whiskey | Bourbon (lightly aged / distillery exclusive); Blue Corn Series | Aged less than 30 days | Made with blue corn mash bill (75% blue corn, 21% wheat, 4% malted barley). Aged less than 30 days. Available as a distillery exclusive. | Distillery exclusive; available in the distillery's shops | ||
| Mash Bill #1 Small Batch Bourbon | Bourbon; Mash Bill Series | Barrel-aged for at least 3 years | The original mash bill for the distillery; light and buttered on the palate with spicy notes. Drying period of at least 3 years noted.; Nose: fruit, cinnamon, cigar box, honeysuckle; Taste: buttery, nutmeg, cinnamon, spice herbal tea, caramel, black pepper, anise; Finish: cinnamon, nutmeg, leather, herbal mint, black pepper | Current; Core Range | ||
| Mash Bill #1 Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon | Bourbon (Bottled-in-Bond); Mash Bill Series | Barrel-aged for at least 3 years | Bottled-in-Bond edition of Mash Bill #1 with the same base proportions; aromatic profile and spicy notes.; Nose: coming …; Taste: buttery, nutmeg, cinnamon, spice herbal tea, caramel, black pepper, anise; Finish: cinnamon, nutmeg, leather, herbal mint, black pepper | Current | ||
| Blue Corn Bottled-in-Bond | Bourbon (Bottled-in-Bond); Blue Corn Series | Blue corn mash (75% blue corn) gives an earthy, nutty and mild vanilla character. This Bottled-in-Bond is released annually due to limited supply.; Nose: Buttered croissant, banana, warm, brown sugar and chocolate; Taste: Velvet mouthfeel, black cherry, basil, vanilla, milk chocolate and fresh croissant; Finish: Dash of spice, chocolate, brown sugar, pear, baking spices such as nutmeg | Limited; Released once a year | |||
| Elkwood Reserve (9-year single barrels) | Kentucky Straight Bourbon (single barrel); Reserve Series | 9 year (single barrels; cask strength in existing releases) | Elkwood Reserve is a semi-premium single-barrel series; there are several releases (including 9-year single barrels) released at cask strength.; Nose: grape jelly, blueberry pie, dried raisins, brown sugar, cooked cherries; Taste: smooth, rounded, cinnamon, cinnamon-chocolate babka; Finish: long, mellow, chocolate, balanced oak | Current; Exclusive through gift shops and online for select releases | ||
| Elkwood 15-Year Single Barrel Bourbon | Kentucky Straight Bourbon (single barrel, cask strength); Elkwood Reserve | 56.5 % | 15 years | A 15-year single barrel from Elkwood Reserve, hand-selected and bottled at cask strength. The release was limited (133 bottles in initial release) and described as uncut and unfiltered.; Nose: vanilla and honey, ripe stone fruit (plum and cherry); Taste: mid-palate of clove and orange zest; Finish: black pepper, leather, tobacco | Limited; Limited; sold via Bourbon Outfitter and the distillery's tasting rooms; 133 bottles | |
| Elkwood Reserve Toasted Oaked | Kentucky Straight Bourbon (finished) | Toasted Oak; finish: Toasted Oak finish | A Elkwood Reserve release finished in toasted oak casks for warm caramel layers and vanilla.; Finish: warm caramel, rich vanilla, oak and spice | Limited | ||
| Reclaimed & Recharred | Finished rye whiskeys / experimental finishes; Midway Series | An experimental concept where used casks are re-coopered, re-charred and refilled to give a secondary finish to already aged spirit.; Nose: campfire, pine, caramel apple; Taste: marzipan, pear, spiced oak, browned butter, burnt marshmallow; Finish: dessert notes, layers of dried fruit, citrus, bold clove spice | Current | |||
| Midway Lot 25 | Finished Rye Whiskey; Midway Series | Repurposed vermouth barrel; finish: Several months in repurposed vermouth finish | A Lot-based rye inspired by Midway’s historic distillery district; finished in vermouth casks.; Nose: brown sugar, honeysuckle, cherry jam; Taste: cinnamon, brown sugar, black cherry, black spice; Finish: light and crisp with herbal notes of citrus and marjoram | Current | ||
| Dudley & Gratz | Finished Rye Whiskey; Midway Series | French Sauternes barrel; finish: Sauternes finish for increased sweetness and vinous nuances | An experimental rye finished in French Sauternes cigs; a hybrid of whiskey and wine methods.; Nose: baking chocolate, cedar, honeysuckle, fresh grapes; Taste: sherry, honey, cinnamon, pineapple; Finish: long and earthy with Caramello bar notes | Current | ||
| Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon (Cask Proof) | Wheated Bourbon (single barrel, cask proof); Wheated Series | Single-barrel wheated whiskey at cask proof; each barrel is unique and the mash bill highlights the wheat.; Nose: buttered spiced cake, butterscotch, spice; Taste: hot butter, spice cake, pepper; Finish: smooth, lingering intensity | Current | |||
| Wheated Bourbon Bottled-in-Bond | Wheated Bourbon (Bottled-in-Bond); Wheated Series | Blend of 4 barrels aged 4.5 years | A small-batch Wheated Bottled-in-Bond, blend of four casks and a total of 920 bottles in this release; highlights the baked-day character of wheat.; Nose: Honey, Butter, Toffee, Nut, Lemon Zest; Taste: Butterscotch, Brown Sugar, Dried Apricot, Vanilla Frosting, Smoked Oak; Finish: Toasted Butterscotch, Brown Sugar, Smoked Oak | Current; 920 bottles |
Style and Flavor Profile of the Whiskies
Three distinct directions emerge from the product descriptions: fruity berry and stone-fruit notes (cherry, blueberry, and stone fruit), warm spices (cinnamon, black pepper, cloves), and sweeter cask influences (vanilla, caramel, butterscotch). These elements appear across Elkwood Reserve releases, blue corn bourbons, and the wheated/rye-based bottles, giving the portfolio a recognizable yet varied profile.
Visiting the Distillery
Elkwood Farm is open to the public and offers guided tours, tastings, as well as a full-service bourbon bar and gift shop. Visits can be booked via the distillery's tour page (powered by AnyRoad). Current hours are weekdays 9–5, Saturday 9–5 and Sunday 12–5. The site has been made an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and appeals to both tourists and locals.
The stated hours are Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 5 PM; Saturday: 9 AM - 5 PM; Sunday: 12 PM - 5 PM.
See times and book a visit.
Philosophy and Craft
The company operates with a grain-to-glass approach, growing its own ingredients such as non-GMO heirloom blue corn and prioritizing local ingredients to reflect the Bluegrass region’s flavor profile. Bluegrass Distillers also highlights investment in the local economy and sustainability in connection with their new Elkwood Farm campus.
Sustainability
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Growing their own grain on the property as part of the grain-to-glass approach.
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Use of on-site well with limestone spring water and emphasis on responsible operations.
Awards and Recognitions
- Small Batch Bourbon of the Year (2024, Elkwood Reserve)
Latest News
Bluegrass Distillers Celebrates Official Opening of Elkwood Farm Distillery in Midway, KY – 2025-06-12
Elkwood Farm Distillery officially opened on June 12, 2025 as Bluegrass Distillers' new 62-acre campus in Midway. The campus includes a 36" x 45-foot column still, six 18,000-gallon fermentation tanks, barrel warehouses, an automated bottling line, and visitor facilities. The distillery is now an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and expects a large number of visitors annually.