J.W. Kelly & Co.
Overview of the Distillery
J.W. Kelly & Co. is a revived American whiskey brand with roots in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The brand builds on J.W. Kelly’s 19th-century heritage and today offers a range of bourbons and rye whiskeys, where historical mash bills and pot-distillation practices are combined with modern cask choices such as double-oaking and wine-barrel finishes.
History
John W. Kelly arrived in the USA in 1863 and settled in Chattanooga in the mid-1860s, where he in 1866 founded Deep Springs Distillery and ran a broad trading business that also included tobacco and import of wine and spirits. The business grew through the late 19th century; Kelly was politically and commercially active, and his brand gained regional recognition. After stricter regulations and Prohibition, distilling operations ceased in 1919, and Deep Springs Distillery was razed in 1927. In 2017, Keeper's Quest revived the J.W. Kelly & Co. brand and began producing whiskey based on Kelly’s original recipes and historic names.
Ingredients and Production
The production rests on classic American ingredients: corn, rye, and barley are used in mash bills, and Golden Age provides a specific composition (65% rye, 20% malted barley, 15% malted rye). The company highlights the use of pot distillation as part of its expression and works with selecting individual barrels for single-barrel editions, as well as finishing in new American casks. Melrose finishes in hand-selected Amarone wine casks, and Silver Springs is a sweet rye, where corn features in the mash bill and the whiskey ages in #3 charred oak barrels before cask-strength bottling. The combination of traditional distillation methods and deliberate cask choices is central to the craft.
Maturation and Cask Types
Aging plays a significant role in the product portfolio. Some whiskies mature in conventional American oak barrel profiles, while others undergo additional treatments: the single-barrel edition is selected from 5–8-year-old barrels and transferred to new American barrels for a further 8–12 months of maturation. Melrose finishes in Amarone wine casks to add spicy and dried fruit notes. Silver Springs is aged at least four years in #3 charred oak barrels and bottled at cask strength. So there is both classic bourbon aging and experimental wine casks in the lineup.
Whiskies
The range runs from straight bourbon (Old Milford) to several rye expressions and special finishes. Old Milford appears as a core bourbon, while Old Milford Single Barrel Select offers single-barrel character and double-oaking. Golden Age is a straight rye with a high rye content and a distinctive mash bill, Melrose is a rye with an Amarone finish, and Silver Springs is a sweet rye based on corn in the mash bill and aged in charred oak barrels. The products are distributed via the brand’s webshop and through listed American distributors.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Milford | Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 47 % | American oak (various casks) | Straight bourbon with spicy wood tones, toffee and chocolate elements, intended to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks.; Nose: Oak, white pepper, vanilla and English toffee; Taste: Honey, baking spice, nutmeg and hints of coffee and fine chocolate tones; Finish: Long finish with cinnamon, white pepper, barrel char and a soft warmth | Current; Core range; Available via webshop and listed distributors in the USA | |
| Old Milford Single Barrel Select | Double Oaked Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 54.5 % | Selected barrels 5–8 years, followed by a further 8–12 months aging in new American oak | New American oak barrel (second maturation); finish: 8–12 months in new American oak | Hand-bottled single-barrel edition, where each barrel is unique and has undergone extra aging in new American oak. | Current; Core range; Available via webshop and in selected markets |
| Golden Age | Straight Rye Whiskey | 47 % | Minimum 2 years | Superior oak barrels; finish: Minimum two years aging in oak barrels | Straight rye with a pronounced rye content and a soft, creamy mouthfeel as a result of the mash bill.; Nose: Sweet fruit nose (orchard fruits) and classic rye spice; Taste: Light sweetness and a crusty bread texture; Finish: Ends with a hint of white pepper | Current; Core range; Available via listed distributors in the USA |
| Melrose | Rye Whiskey | 46 % | Amarone wine casks; finish: Finished in hand-selected Amarone wine casks | Rye whiskey finished in Amarone casks to highlight fruity and spicy elements.; Finish: Spicy and dry with elevated notes of cherry and cinnamon | Current; Core range; Available in select American cities | |
| Silver Springs Sweet Rye Whiskey | Sweet Rye Whiskey | Minimum 4 years | #3 charred oak barrels; finish: Aged at least four years in #3 charred oak barrels | Sweet Rye based on Kelly’s historic Silver Spring name, with corn in the mash bill and bottled at cask strength.; Nose: Molasses, burnt sugar and toffee; Taste: Caramel, nougat and hot cinnamon candy; Finish: Spicy rye with a long, dry finish | Current; Core range; Available via webshop and listed distributors in the USA |
The Whiskies' Style and Flavor Profile
Three common threads run through the portfolio: spice (white pepper, rye spices, cinnamon), sweetness (caramel, toffee, nougat and molasses), and fruitiness (cherries and orchard fruits). Old Milford is described with toffee, vanilla and spices; Golden Age mentions sweet fruit notes and bread-like textures; Melrose highlights cherry and cinnamon from the Amarone finish, and Silver Springs bears molasses/caramel and a long, spicy rye finish.
Visiting the Distillery
The website provides a contact address and contact details for the brand in Chattanooga, including a physical address and phone number, but does not describe public visiting programs or guided tours. For general contact and purchases, refer to the webshop and the list of distributors, and address information can be used when contacting the office.
Philosophy and Values
Recreating historical recipes and respect for the brand’s heritage.
Combination of traditional pot-distillation methods and modern aging choices.
Focus on quality ingredients, patient aging, and careful blending for consistent flavor.