MB Roland Distillery
Overview of the Distillery
MB Roland Distillery is located in Pembroke, Christian County, Kentucky, and was founded in 2009 by Paul and Merry Beth (Roland) Tomaszewski. The distillery focuses on a conscious pre-Prohibition style: their own distillation from local grains, pot stills, use of handmade, wood-fired barrels, and bottling unchill-filtered and often at barrel proof. All spirits are produced on-site with a grain-to-glass approach.
History
The history goes back further than the founding. After Prohibition, the number of small, local distilleries declined dramatically, and modern production was geared toward efficiency and lighter, chill-filtered spirits. Paul Tomaszewski came to Kentucky in 2007 during his service at Fort Campbell and shared an ambition to recreate the fuller, historical flavor profiles in bourbon. Paul and Merry Beth bought a former Amish dairy farm near Pembroke and established MB Roland Distillery in 2009. They secured local sourcing from nearby grain suppliers, including rye from Walnut Grove Farms and malted barley from South Fork Malthouse. Early on, they also entered into the purchase of handmade barrels from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, charred over natural wood staves. The company started with a 100-gallon still and grew over time to a team of around fourteen employees who today run the production and develop the distillery's pre-Prohibition profile.
Raw Materials and Production
Production is built around local grains and traditional methods. MB Roland purchases white corn and red winter wheat from Kentucky farms, rye from Walnut Grove Farms in Logan County, and malted barley from South Fork Malthouse in Cynthiana. Distillation takes place on pot stills and is described as double pot distilled. The distillery practices grain-to-glass, meaning that they distill all they bottle themselves, without purchasing sourced whiskey. Special production choices include the use of handmade barrels, bottling without chill filtration, and often at barrel proof. These choices support an intention to imitate and preserve a pre-Prohibition style in both ingredients and production processes.
Maturation and Barrel Types
MB Roland uses handmade barrels from Kelvin Cooperage in Louisville, which are charred over natural wood staves. These casks form a central part of the aging strategy and are chosen for their craftsmanship and traditional production methods. Bottling is unfiltered and often at barrel proof, which allows the barrel's character and the distillate to come through more unmixed.
Whiskies
MB Roland primarily produces pre-Prohibition-style bourbons and whiskeys with a focus on their own distillation and local grains. Among the documented products is MB Roland Single Barrel Bourbon, which highlights pot distillation, the use of local grains, aging in wood-fired barrels, and bottling unfiltered at barrel proof. The distillery also offers private barrel picks and membership programs such as Stavesman, which provide early releases and special events.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MB Roland Single Barrel Bourbon | Bourbon | 53.1% | Handmade wood-fired Kelvin Cooperage barrel | Pre-Prohibition-style single barrel bourbon distilled from local grains, pot-distilled, aged in wood-fired barrels, and bottled unfiltered at barrel proof. | Current |
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery is open to the public with guided tours, tastings, and product sales. Hours are Monday–Thursday 10:00–18:00, Friday–Saturday 09:00–18:00 (first tour at 10:00; last tour at 17:00 on selected days) and Sunday 13:00–18:00. There is parking, including for larger vehicles such as RVs and buses. Contact information and visit bookings are handled through the distillery's contact page and phone/email.
The stated hours are Mon–Thu 10:00–18:00; Fri–Sat 09:00–18:00 (first tour at 10:00; Friday/Saturday also list the last tour at 17:00 on site); Sun 13:00–18:00. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Easter Sunday.
Philosophy and Craft
MB Roland works purposefully to recreate the pre-Prohibition style through choices of local grains, pot distillation, the use of handmade wood-fired barrels, and bottling without chill filtration at barrel proof. The distillery practices grain-to-glass and emphasizes that all spirits are distilled on-site. In addition, local engagement and support for the local community are part of the company's values.