Hartfield & Co. Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Hartfield & Co. is located in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, and is known for reviving legal bourbon production in the county in 2014. The distillery highlights local grain sources within a 50-mile radius and limestone-filtered water as the basis for its bourbons. Visitors can join guided tours, tastings, and visit the Tavern, and the distillery produces both core ranges as well as single-barrel and cask-strength releases.

History

Hartfield & Co. was started in 2014 when Andrew Buchanan and his partner Curtis Mackley established The Gentleman Distillery in Paris, and on October 7, 2014 produced the first legally distilled bourbon from Bourbon County since Prohibition. In 2015 the name was changed to Hartfield & Co. to honor the family's distilling heritage. In 2016 Jeremy and Reid Buchanan joined the company and bought out the former partners; actress Kaley Cuoco served as a silent partner. During Covid-19 in 2020 the distillery pivoted production to hand sanitizer, and in 2021 they launched the Kentucky Spirits Limited line and began hosting virtual tastings. Andrew Buchanan later left the company, and in October 2021 Jeremy Buchanan became Master Distiller and President. In September 2023 Old Bourbon County was launched as the distillery's first Straight Bourbon, and in October 2024 Hartfield Family Reserve - 9 Year was released as a ten-year anniversary edition.

Ingredients and Production

Hartfield & Co. works with local ingredients: all grains are purchased within a 50-mile radius, and the distillery's water is limestone-filtered. Production methods are described as revived from pre-Prohibition times, and recipes range from a Pre-Prohibition mashbill (62% corn, 19% rye, 19% malted barley) to variants such as a wheated mashbill for Old Bourbon County and mashbill 72/18/10 for Family Reserve releases. The distillery regularly releases single-barrel and cask-strength bottlings and offers customers the option to choose their own barrel picks, which is a significant part of the product lineup.

Aging and Barrel Types

Many of Hartfield's currently discussed releases are aged in modern 53-gallon barrels. The Family Reserve releases are examples of 53-gallon aging with long aging periods (9+ years for Family Reserve). Historically there is also reference to the use of charred oak barrels, and the distillery offers single-barrel releases and special barrel-release formats as part of their aging strategy.

Whiskies

The lineup includes a core line based on a Pre-Prohibition recipe as well as special editions and single-barrel releases. Kentucky Spirits Limited (launched 2021) includes both bourbon and rye in single-barrel, cask-strength formats. Old Bourbon County (2023) marks the distillery's first Straight Bourbon, and Hartfield Family Reserve - 9 Year is a limited anniversary release from 2024 with subsequent special releases. The distillery also offers barrel picks and a shop for local pickups.

Whisky	Type / Series	Alcohol	Age	Barrel & Style	Tasting Notes	Status
Hartfield Family Reserve - 9 Year (Judge's Choice - Award-Winning Barrel)	Bourbon	72.45 %	9+ Years	53 Gal. barrel (single barrel, cask strength)	A single-barrel, cask-strength bottle selected from Hartfield Family Reserve - 9 Year; this Judge's Choice release consisted of 30 bottles and marks a special edition from the anniversary series. Nose: dark cherry and maple; Palate: rich with depth; maple carries into the palate; Finish: Lingering finish with light spice	Limited; released online as a limited edition; 'sold out' on the product page; 30 bottles
Hartfield Family Reserve - 9 Year	Bourbon		9 Year	53 Gal. barrel	Ten-year anniversary release from 2024 consisting of an initial series of 10 barrels; Family Reserve is a limited release from the distillery's anniversary series.	Limited; Limited / collection
Old Bourbon County	Straight Bourbon Whiskey			Modern 53-gallon barrel	Launch September 2023; Old Bourbon County is the distillery's first Straight Bourbon release, based on a wheated mashbill and aged in a modern 53-gallon barrel.	Current; Core range
Pre-Prohibition Style Bourbon	Bourbon; Pre-Prohibition line				Core series based on a 'Pre-Prohibition' recipe (62% corn, 19% rye, 19% malted barley) which Hartfield & Co. has revived as the basis for several of their bourbon releases.	Current; Core range
Kentucky Spirits Limited - Bourbon (line)	Bourbon (single barrel / cask strength formats documented)				Line launched in 2021 consisting of single-barrel, cask-strength bourbon releases as part of the company's pandemic expansion.	Current
Kentucky Spirits Limited - Rye (line)	Rye				Rye releases under the Kentucky Spirits Limited line, launched in 2021 as part of the distillery's expanded range.	Current

Whiskies’ Style and Flavor Profile

Across the documented releases, there is a common thread of fruit, clear sweetness, and a spicy finish. Family Reserve is described directly with dark cherries and maple notes and a lightly spicy finish. Old Bourbon County is described as based on a wheated mashbill, which adds a sweeter grain character. Overall, the descriptions point to fruity notes, sweetness from the grain/finish, and a lightly spicy aftertaste.

Visiting the Distillery

Hartfield & Co. invites guests to guided tours, tastings, and single-barrel experiences; tours can be booked through the distillery's booking system. After a tour there is a Tavern where handmade cocktails are served, and the distillery's shop offers purchases and the option for local pickup. There are two addresses in Paris with stated hours (108 E 4th St and 320 Pleasant Street); typical hours are Tuesday–Friday 9:00–17:00 and Saturday 10:00–17:00, with varying hours on Mondays for one of the addresses.

The published hours are Hartfield & Co. (108 E 4th St): Tue–Fri 9:00–17:00, Sat 10:00–17:00. Hartfield & Co. (320 Pleasant Street): Monday 13:00–17:00; Tue–Fri 9:00–17:00; Sat 10:00–17:00.

Philosophy and Craft

Hartfield & Co. combines an ambition to revive Bourbon County's distilling heritage with a practical local approach: grain from the nearby area, limestone-filtered water, and the reintroduction of historical production methods. The company focuses on craftsmanship, small-batch and single-barrel releases, and visitor experiences.

Awards and Recognitions

Double Gold (2025) for Hartfield Family Reserve - 9 Year (barrel release)
Double-Platinum (2025) for Hartfield Family Reserve - 9 Year (barrel release)