History

Hot Springs Distilling LLC was established in the summer of 2018. The roots trace back to a father-and-son trip in 2013, where the founders visited a number of distilleries in Scotland and learned about the traditions and history of the Scotch industry. After returning home, they began visiting distilleries in the United States, from large producers in Kentucky to small craft distilleries — and those experiences have influenced their approach to making spirits. Hot Springs Distilling's philosophy is to combine the best practices from some of the more well-known whiskey brands and techniques from around the world and to blend them in a way that fits their small scale, with the aim of creating several whiskeys with a unique take on classic American spirits. We hope to see you soon, so we can share our love for Bourbon, Rye and other whiskey types.

Keith Atkinson is the first of the father-and-son duo and serves as General Manager. His work covers everything from cocktails and distillation to the ongoing cleaning required in a distillery. He has visited more than a hundred distilleries and taken numerous tastings and distillation courses, and he is passionate about aging and the various techniques and philosophies around spirits.

Scott Atkinson is the Head Distiller and is responsible for the science and art of producing spirits. He has previously worked in orchards and as a software developer, and his research and experiences are reflected in the variation and development of flavor experiences in Hot Springs Distilling's products.

Production

Hot Springs Distilling aims to produce small batches and leverage their size as an advantage to experiment and give each release its own unique twist on American spirits. Their approach combines best practices from well-known whiskey brands and techniques from around the world to create several whiskeys with different characters.

Products / Whisky Series

• Bear Clap Distiller's Series – 4 YR – Batch B10: Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 105.4 Proof, 4 years old. Mash Bill: 53% Yellow Corn, 33% Rye, 14% Malted Barley. 375ml.
• Bear Clap Distiller's Series – Batch 3: Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 98.8 Proof, 2 years old. Mash Bill: 53% Yellow Corn, 33% Rye, 14% Malted Barley.
• Bear Clap Blender's Series – Batch 6: A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys. Proof and age stated: 5 years old. Mash Bill: not specified.

Visits / Experiences

Hot Springs Distilling was established in 2018 and offers a tasting in their tasting room as well as a small cocktail menu showcasing their spirits. The address is 121 Ross St, Hot Springs, AR 71901. The tasting room is open on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cocktails and tours are offered on Saturdays. See their Events page for upcoming events and classes.

Philosophy

Hot Springs Distilling combines best practices from well-known whiskey brands and techniques from around the world, and leverages its small size as an advantage to create several whiskeys with a unique take on classic American spirits. Their goal is to share their love for Bourbon, Rye and all their favorite whiskey types.