History

• The Wathen-Medley family has distilled some of Kentucky's finest bourbons for eight generations, beginning more than 100 years before Prohibition. Today the company is owned and operated by the 7th and 8th generations of Wathen-Medley, Sam Medley and his father Charles Medley, and it is one of the last independent and family-owned Kentucky bourbon brands, as well as one of the most historic.

• When the 21st Amendment was ratified in the winter of 1933, Thomas Aquinas Medley began distilling and releasing unaged spirits, just as many startup whiskey producers do today. When he reintroduced the Medley family's whiskey, he sold it as a 30-day spirit – a long leap from the pre-Prohibition bourbons, but the public received it well. Since then followed 60-day bourbon and older followed up—until there were sufficient reserves and older bourbon could be offered.

• When Thomas Medley died in 1940, his son, R. Wathen Medley, took over the operation and summoned his four brothers to create a range of highly regarded bourbon brands. Wathen is generally regarded as the inventor of the single-barrel bourbon concept; he selected particular barrels for dinners and gatherings where Kentucky’s distilling families gathered. Years later the Wathen family established Wathen's Single Barrel Bourbon as an homage.

• Production and control occur as contract production at a non-publicly disclosed distillery, where Sam and Charles oversee all steps—from grain sourcing to mashing, fermentation, distillation and aging. Charles Medley Distillery continues to produce whiskeys with their traditional high-corn, high-malted-barley, low-rye mash bill, a recipe that remains unchanged from the original to create their Kentucky Straight Bourbons.

• The range includes Bourbons under names like Medley Brothers 102 Proof, Wathen's Single Barrel, and Wathen's Barrel Proof, each bearing the family's history and dedication to the craft.

• The general philosophy of the company describes it as one of the last independent and family-owned Kentucky bourbon brands, deeply rooted in the history and traditions of bourbon production.

Production / Manufacturing

• Charles Medley Distillery operates as a contract producer, where the distillation and aging take place at an undisclosed distillery, while Sam and Charles oversee the process—from grain sourcing to mashing, fermentation, distillation and aging.

• The mash bill is described as traditional: high corn content (high-corn), high-malted-barley and low rye (low-rye), a recipe that, according to the description, has not changed from the original.

• The products are produced as Kentucky Straight Bourbons and pointed out as part of the Medley family's long bourbon tradition, with an emphasis on preserving a classic American whiskey profile across generations.

Products / Whiskey Series

• Medley Brothers 102 Proof – Bourbon, 102 proof, produced by Charles Medley Distillery; Mash bill 77% corn, 13% malted barley, 10% rye; at least 4 years aging in a toasted, char level 3 fade.
• Wathen's Single Barrel – Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Mash bill 77% corn, 13% malted barley, 10% rye; at least 6 years aging in a toasted, char level 3 fade; non-chill filtered; 47% ABV.

• Wathen's Barrel Proof – Bourbon; mash bill as above; aging in toasted, char level 3 fade; non-chill filtered; higher ABV; the label describes it as a sampling/blind-tasting selection of barrels.

• All three series originate from the Wathen-Medley family and are described as Kentucky Straight Bourbons with the traditional mash bill and a focus on family-led operation and historical recipe.

Visits / Experiences

• There is no information in the content about tours, tastings or visitor experiences at Charles Medley Distillery. This section therefore remains without details based on the information provided.

Philosophy

• The company presents itself as one of the last independent and family-owned Kentucky bourbon brands with a long historical significance and a sense of tradition.

• Their approach emphasizes control over the entire chain—from grain sourcing to mashing, fermentation, distillation and aging— and maintains an unchanged mash bill that is part of the original recipe and identity.

• The special focus on the single-barrel concept and family-led management highlights the emphasis on craft, history and continuity over time.