Last Updated: May 15, 2012
This list is an attempt to catalog all current American whiskey distilleries and brands. The idea is that if you see a bottle of American whiskey on the shelf, you should be able to consult this list and figure out who makes and markets it.
The list has two parts. Part I lists all American whiskey distilleries which are currently producing whiskey, or have plans to produce whiskey in the near future, along with their brands, listed by state. Part II lists independent bottlers of American whiskey; that is, companies that buy whiskey from the distilleries listed in Part I and bottle it under their own labels.
These lists do not include all blended whiskey brands or brands that are for export only, though some are mentioned. It also does not include American bottlers of foreign whiskeys (i.e. American bottling companies that bottle Irish or Canadian whiskeys). It also does not include "spirit whiskey," which is whiskey in name only.
I will try to keep this list updated so that people can continue to refer to it.
I. DISTILLERIES
Alaska
Alaska Distillery, Wasilla, AK. The furthest north whiskey distillery in the United States, Alaska Distillery makes Alaska Outlaw Whiskey, a whiskey of indeterminate mashbill.
Arizona
High Spirits Distillery, Flagstaff, AZ. Makers of a mesquite smoked single malt whiskey.
Arkansas
Rock Town Distillery, Little Rock, AR. This distillery makes Rock Town Arkansas Young Bourbon Whiskey and Arkansas Hickory Smoked Whiskey, a hickory smoked wheat whiskey.
California
1512 Spirits, Rohnert Park, CA. This micro-micro distillery in Sonoma County makes 1512 Barbershop Rye, an unaged rye whiskey and is working on a wheat whiskey.
American Craft Whiskey Distllery, Ukiah, CA. This is a project of Crispin Cain, a distiller at craft brandy producer Germain-Robin who used Germain-Robin's stills to make Low Gap, an unaged wheat whiskey.
Anchor Distilling (Griffin Group), San Francisco, CA. Old Potrero Single Malt Rye.
Ballast Point Spirits, San Diego, CA. This brewery and microdistillery makes Devil's Share Whiskey, a malt whiskey.
Charbay, St. Helena, CA. this micro in Napa County has put out two releases of its barley-based, hop flavored whiskey as well as Charbay Double and Twisted Light Whiskey.
Fog's End Distillery/C&C Shine, Salinas, CA. this distillery makes Fog's End Monterey Rye, the corn based California Moonshine and an unaged rye moonshine.
Lost Spirits Distillery, Salinas, CA. This distillery is in the process of making a peated single malt whiskey called Smokestack Lightning.
Old World Spirits, Belmont, CA. These makers of Rusty Blade Gin and La Sorciere Absinthe also make Goldrush Rye Whiskey.
St. George, Alameda, CA. The makers of numerous spirits, including St. George Single Malt, also make Breaking and Entering Bourbon, which is a blend of Kentucky bourbons (listed below under independent bottlers).
St. James, Irwindale, CA. Peregrine Rock single malt.
Stillwater Spirits, Petaluma, CA. This distillery, which makes brandy, does not sell its own whiskey yet, but they do distill the corn whiskey used in Wylie Howell Whiskey. They are also working on a bourbon and a rye.
Valley Spirits, Modesto, CA. Valley Spirits currently produces Outlaw Moonshine, an unaged wheat whiskey. They are also planning a barrel aged three grain (corn, wheat and rye) whiskey which they hope to put into barrels in 2012.
Colorado
Colorado Gold, Cedearedge, CO. This distillery makes Colorado Gold Bourbon and Colorado's Own Corn Whiskey.
Dancing Pines Distillery, Loveland, CO. This distillery makes Dancing Pines Bourbon.
Deerhammer Distilling Co., Buena Vista, CO. This distillery is planning to release an unaged malt whiskey under the label Whitewater Whiskey and is also planning on an aged malt whiskey.
Distillery 291, Colorado Springs, CO. This distillery is planning a bourbon, a rye and a malt whiskey.
Downslope Distilling, Centennial, CO. This Colorado distillery makes Double Diamond Whiskey, an Irish style whiskey and is working on a malt whiskey.
Leopold Bros., Denver, CO. Leopold Bros. Distillery makes a variety of spirits, including a corn-based American Whiskey, a Maryland style rye and a number of flavored whiskeys made from new make spirit. They are working on a Tennessee style whiskey.
Peachstreet Distillers, Palisade, CO. Colorado Straight Bourbon.
Stranahan's (Proximo Spirits), Denver, CO. Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, a single malt.
Connecticut
Elm City Distillery, Durham, CT. Maker of Nine Square Rye, an unaged rye whiskey.
Florida
Flagler Spirits, Palm Coast, FL. This Florida distillery makes corn whiskey, much of it sold to other bottlers.
Florida Farm Distillers, Umatilla, FL. This distillery makes Palm Ridge Reserve, which it describes as a "90 proof, young Florida Bourbon-style whiskey."
Georgia
Georgia Distilling Co., Milledgeville, GA. This distillery in the exurbs of Atlanta opened in 2011. They make Goodtime Vodka and Goodtime Moonshine and are planning on making bourbon and rye.
Thirteenth Colony Distilleries, Americus, GA. Makers of 13th Colony Southern Corn Whiskey, an aged corn whiskey. They are working on a rye as well.
Illinois
Few Spirits, Evanston, IL. This distillery in the Chicago suburbs makes white whiskey, bourbon and rye.
Koval Distillery, Chicago, IL. This Chicago distillery has released several unaged "white whiskeys" a line of aged whiskeys under the Lion's Pride label. They have a variety of different grain whiskeys, including rye, millet, spelt, wheat and oat, and all of their products are kosher and organic.
Northshore Distillery, Lake Bluff, IL. This distillery is working on a malt whiskey.
Iowa
Broadbent Distillery, Norwalk, IA. Makers of Two Jay's Iowa Corn Whiskey.
Cedar Ridge Distillery, Swisher, IA. This winery makes Cedar Ridge Bourbon and is working on a single malt for 2013.
Mississippi River Distilling Co., Le Claire, IA. This Iowa distillery makes Cody Road Bourbon, a wheated bourbon, Windmill Rye and is working on Farmer Brown Whiskey, a malt whiskey.
Indiana
Heartland Distillers, Indianapolis, IN. This distillery is working on Indiana Bourbon.
Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana (LDI)(MGP), Lawrenceburg, IN. Formerly owned by the now dissolved Seagram's company, this large distillery near the Kentucky border was recently sold by Angostura to MGP (Midwest Grain Products). While they don't market any of their own whiskey, the distillery makes whiskey for a number of other labels including Templeton Rye, Bulleit Rye, Big Bottom Bourbon, Redemption Rye and Cougar Bourbon and rye. Lawrenceburg is also said to make the whiskey component of Diageo's Seagram's 7 Crown blended whiskey.
Kansas
Dark Horse Distillery, Lenexa, KS. This distillery makes Long Shot White Whiskey and is working on Lewis Redmond Carolina Bourbon.
High Plains Distillery, Atchison, KS. Most Wanted Kansas Bourbon; in the past, they have also made a single malt, a rye and a wheat whiskey, though I'm not sure if they are still making any of those.
Kentucky
Alltech Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. (Lyons Spirits), Lexington, KY. This brewery makes a malt whiskey, Pearse Lyons Reserve, and Town Branch Bourbon.
Barrel House Distilling Co., Lexington, KY. This microdistillery is currently marketing vodka but has plans for whiskey under the labels Woodshed Whisky and Barrel House Bourbon.
Barton 1792 Distillery (Buffalo Trace/Sazerac Co.), Bardstown, KY. Constellation Brands recently sold this Bardstown gem to Buffalo Trace. Beloved for their Bourbon in Kentucky and for their rye in Wisconsin but little known outside those states, they are the makers of:
1792 Ridgemont Reserve
Barton Blended Whiskey
Colonel Lee Bourbon and Blended Whiskey
Fleischmann's Rye and Blended Whiskey
Imperial Blended Whiskey
Kentucky Gentleman
Kentucky Tavern
Old Thompson Blended Whiskey
Sutton Club Blended Whiskey
Ten High
Tom Moore
Very Old Barton
Brown Forman, Shively, KY. Brown Forman owns three distinct American whiskey distilleries (Shively, Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel's). Their Shively, Kentucky plant makes Old Forester Bourbon and Early Times Bourbon and Kentucky Whiskey. They also made rye whiskey for Heaven Hill prior to 2010.
Buffalo Trace(Sazerac Co.), Frankfort, KY. Formerly known as Ancient Age, the Buffalo Trace distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky is one of the most loved by whiskey aficionados. They market under one of the most diverse collection of brands (some of which are owned by Age International or Old Rip Van Winkle):
Ancient Age (Age International)
Benchmark
Blanton's (Age International)
Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection
Eagle Rare
E.H. Taylor
Elmer T. Lee (Age International)
George T. Stagg
Hancock's Reserve (Age International)
Old Charter
Old Taylor (acquired from Jim Beam)
Rock Hill Farms (Age International)
Sazerac and Thomas H. Handy Rye
Single Oak Project
Van Winkle and Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon and Rye (produced for Van Winkle Distillery)
W.L. Weller
Zackariah Harris
Corsair Distillery, Bowling Green, KY. This distillery has plans for Bourbon. So far, they are marketing Triple Smoke, a malt whiskey; Wry Moon Unaged Rye Whiskey; Rasputin, a hopped whiskey; James E. Pepper Bourbon, Graniac 9 Grain Bourbon, and they have plans for many other whiskeys including an oatmeal stout and a chocoalte mocha porter. They have a second distillery in Nashville, Tennessee.
Four Roses (Kirin), Lawrencburg, KY. Four Roses only recently began bringing their Bourbon back to the US. Aside from the Four Roses label, the distillery makes Bulleit Bourbon for Diageo.
Heaven Hill, Bardstown, KY. The last family owned distillery in Kentucky, Bardstown based Heaven Hill's diverse brand portfolio includes Bourbon, rye, Kentucky's only straight wheat whiskey and nearly all of the (non micro) American corn whiskey brands. To make it more confusing. Prior to 2010, Heaven Hill's rye whiskeys were distilled at the Brown Forman Shively distillery.
Bourbon
Blue State Bourbon
Cabin Still
Echo Spring
Elijah Craig
Evan Williams
Fighting Cock
Heaven Hill
Henry McKenna
JTS Brown
JW Dant
Kentucky Supreme
Mattingly & Moore
Old Fitzgerald
Old Whiskey River
Parker's Heritage Collection
Pennypacker (export only)
Red State Bourbon
Sam Clay
William Heavenhill
Virgin
Rye
Pikesville Rye
Rittenhouse Rye
Stephen Foster Rye
Wheat Whiskey
Bernheim Wheat Whiskey
Corn Whiskey
Dixie Dew
Georgia Moon
JW Corn
Mellow Corn
Blended Whiskey
Gukenheimer
Kentucky Beau
Kentucky Deluxe
Philadelphia
TW Samuels
Wilson
New Make
Trybox
Jim Beam (Beam Inc.), Clermont & Boston, KY. Jim Beam is the biggest name in Bourbon. The brands made at their signature operation, with facilities in Clermont and Boston, Kentucky, include:
Baker's
Basil Hayden
Booker's
Bourbon de Luxe
Jim Beam Bourbons and Rye
Kessler Blended Whiskey
Kirkland Signature (for Costco)
Knob Creek
Old Bourbon Hollow
Old Crow
Old Grand-Dad
Old Overholt Rye
(rī)¹ (Rye One)
Limestone Branch Distillery, Lebanon, KY. Operated by members of the Beam family and opened in 2011, this distillery makes T.J. Pottinger Corn Whiskey.
Maker's Mark (Beam Inc.), ), Loretto, KY. Simplicity reigns at this Jim Beam owned distillery. It makes only one brand - Maker's Mark.
MB Roland Distillery, Pembroke, KY. A microdistillery which makes White Dog and Black Dog brand corn whiskeys and is working on a Bourbon.
Old Pogue Distillery, Maysville, KY. The original Old Pogue Distillery closed in the 1940s and the brand survived for years as an independent bottler. In 2012, the Pogue family opened a new distillery in Maysville where they are planning to make Limestone Landing Rye, a single malt rye whiskey.
Wild Turkey (Campari Group), Lawrenceburg, KY. Drinks giant Pernod Ricard recently sold this venerable brand to Italy's Campari. Most of the Bourbons and rye whiskeys made at this Lawrenceburg distillery carry the Wild Turkey name, though they have recently begun to market Russell's Reserve as a separate brand.
Willett Distillery (Kentucky Bourbon Distillers), Bardstown, KY. For years the independent bottler Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) had talked about refurbishing the old Willett Distillery that they owned. In 2012, they finally finished and started distilling. No word on when any of the Willett whiskey will hit the market.
Woodford Reserve/Labrot & Graham (Brown Forman), Versailles, KY. Brown Forman's second Kentucky distillery makes Bourbons marketed under the Woodford Reserve brand.
Massachusetts
Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Great Barrington, MA. This distillery makes numerous spirits including Berkshire Bourbon, a triple distilled Bourbon, and New England Corn Whiskey.
Bully Boy Distillery, Boston, MA. This distillery makes a white whiskey and an aged wheat whiskey.
Nashoba Distillery, Boston, MA. This winery turned distillery makes Stimulus single malt whiskey.
Ryan & Wood Distillery, Gloucester, MA. This distillery started releasing a straight rye whiskey in 2011.
Triple Eight Distillery, Nantucket, MA. Notch (i.e., Not Scotch) single malt. They previously made Nor'Easter Bourbon, a sourced bourbon which they aged in Massachusetts.
Michigan
Grand Traverse Distillery, Traverse City, MI. This microdistillery makes Ole' George Straight Rye Whiskey and a bourbon.
Journeyman Distillery, Three Oaks, MI. This organic distillery makes WR Whiskey, a white rye whiskey, Ravenswood Rye, the first batch of which was made at Koval in Chicago with successive batches being made at the Michigan distillery. They are also working on Silver Cross Whiskey, a four grain whiskey, Featherbone Bourbon, Buggy Whip Wheat Whiskey and Three Oaks Single Malt Whiskey.
New Holland Brewing Co., Holland, MI. This micro makes Zepplin Bend Straight Malt Whiskey, Walleye Rye, Malthouse Brewers Whiskey (made from malted barley, smoked barley and rye), Double Down Barley Whiskey, Bill's Wheat Whiskey and Black River Bourbon.
Mississippi
Cathead Distillery (Bottletree Beverage Co.), Madison, MS. This distillery is making a barley based whiskey. They are planning to release a white whiskey in June 2012 and an aged whiskey in the fall.
Missouri
Copper Run Distillery, Walnut Shade, MO. This Ozark distillery located near Branson, Missouri makes rum, vodka and Ozark Mountain Moonshine Corn Whiskey.
Square One Distillery, St. Louis, MO. This brewery/distillery makes a number of spirits under its Spirits of St. Louis brand including JJ Neukomm Whiskey, a malt whiskey.
Montana
Glacier Distilling Co., Coram, MT. This Montana distillery makes Glacier Dew, a light whiskey made from a mash of barley, corn and rye; North Fork Flood Stage Whiskey, a whiskey made from barley, corn and rye; Badrock Rye; and Wheatfish Whiskey made from Wheatfish Beer, using a wheat/barley mash. They are also working on Belton Point Bourbon.
Roughstock Distillery, Bozeman, MT. This distillery makes Roughstock Montana Malt Whiskey, Spring Wheat Whiskey and Sweet Corn Whiskey.
Nebraska
Sòlas Distillery, La Vista, NE. This distillery makes Joss Vodka and is planning to release a single malt whiskey in 2013.
Nevada
Las Vegas Distillery, Las Vegas, NV. This is a new distillery with plans for a number of whiskeys, including bourbon, wheat, rye, malt and oat whiskey as well as Nevada Shine Corn Whiskey.
New Mexico
Don Quixote Distillery, Los Alamos, NM. This distillery makes Blue Corn Bourbon, a wheated blue corn bourbon.
KGB Spirits, Alcalde, NM. Makers of Taos Lightening Bourbon and rye.
Santa Fe Spirits, Santa Fe, NM. This distillery makes Silver Coyote Western Whiskey, an unaged malt whiskey, and is working on Glenkeegan Single Malt Whiskey.
New York
Albany Distilling Co., Albany, NY. This distillery began distilling in 2012 and is planning to release some new make whiskeys, including Half Moon New Make Whiskey, a whiskey made from a bourbon mash. They are also aging some whiskeys.
Breuckelen Distilling, Brooklyn, NY. This Brooklyn distillery makes wheat and rye under the label 77 Whiskey.
Catskill Distilling Co., Bethel, NY. This distillery makes a vodka and is working on an unaged wheat whiskey.
Delaware Phoenix Distillery, Walton, NY. This upstate New York distillery makes an unaged rye known as Rye Dog.
Finger Lakes Distilling, Burdett, NY. This upstate New York microdistillery is currently marketing Glen Thunder Corn Whiskey, White Pike Whiskey and McKenzie Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys.
Hillrock Estate Distillery, Ancram, NY. This distillery has plans for a malt whiskey.
Kings County Distillery, Brooklyn, NY. Founded in 2010, this New York City distillery is making a corn whiskey moonshine and a bourbon.
Tuthilltown, Gardiner, NY. Hudson Baby Bourbon, Hudson Four Grain Bourbon, Hundson Manhattan Rye, Hudson Single Malt and Hudson Corn Whiskey. Their line of whiskeys is owned by the Scottish William Grant & Sons.
North Dakota
Jeff Taylor Distillery, Burlington, ND. A project of the Pointe of View Winery, this distillery is working on a corn whiskey.
North Carolina
Troy & Sons Distillers/Asheville Distilling Co., Asheville, NC. This distillery makes a corn whiskey labeled as Moonshine.
Ohio
Ernest Scarano Distillery, Gibsonburg, OH. This distillery is ageing rye for its Old Homicide straight rye whiskey, which it hopes to release in 2014. It also plans to release and unaged rye, Whiskey Dick.
Indian Creek Distillery (Staley Mill Farm & Distillery), New Carlisle, OH. This distillery plans to open in 2012 and make Staley Rye Whiskey.
Middle West Spirits, Columbus, OH. This micro distillery mostly focuses on vodka but makes small batches of OYO (O-Why-O) Whiskey, a wheat whiskey.
Panther Distillery, Osakis, OH. This distillery is working on a number of whiskeys including both a rye and a wheat recipe bourbon.
Tom Foolery, Chagrin Falls, OH. This maker of applejack has started making bourbon as well though it is not on the market yet.
Watershed Distillery, Columbus, OH. This distillery makes vodka and gin and is aging a wheated bourbon that it hopes to have ready in 2013.
Woodstone Creek Distillery, Cincinnati, OH. A winery recently turned distillery, Woodstone Creek makes a Bourbon, a malt whiskey and a blended whiskey.
Oregon
Bull Run Distilling Co., Portland, OR. This large volume microdistillery hopes to make a straight malt whiskey for release in 2013. For now, they are bottling sourced whiskey (see below).
Cascade Peak Spirits, Ashland, OR. This organic vodka distillery has released a rye whiskey and is also working on Bourbon and corn whiskey.
Clear Creek Distillery, Portland, OR. McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt.
Edgefield Distillery, Troutdale, OR. Hogshead single malt and Devil's Bit rye whiskey.
Highball Distillery, Portland, OR. This distillery currently makes vodka but is working on a whiskey.
House Spirits, Portland, OR. In late 2009, this microdistillery released its first malt whiskeys: an unaged whiskey and two three year olds, one at 45% abv and a barrel strength version at 60% abv.
Oregon Spirit Distillers, Bend, OR. Makers of CW Irwin Bourbon, a four grain straight bourbon.
Ransom Spirits, Sheridan, OR. This winery/distillery makes a number of spirits including Whipper Snapper Oregon Spirit Whiskey.
Rogue Spirits, Portland, OR. The popular brewery makes Rogue Dead Guy Whiskey, a four grain whiskey and Chatoe Rogue Single Malt Whiskey.
Stein Distillery, Joseph, OR. Makers of Stein Bourbon and Rye.
Stone Barn Brandyworks, Portland, OR. This distillery primarily features brandy and liqueurs but also makes an "unoaked" rye under the label Hard Eight.
Pennsylvania
Mountain Laurel Spirits, Bristol, PA. This distillery makes Dad's Hat Rye Whiskey.
Philadelphia Distilling, Philadelphia, PA. This distillery makes an unaged corn based whiskey labeled XXX Shine White Whiskey which it began releasing in spring 2011.
Pittsburgh Distilling Co., Pittsburgh, PA. This craft distillery began operations in 2011 and is planning on making rye and wheat whiskeys under the label Wigle Whiskey. They have so far released unaged versions of their whiskeys.
Rhode Island
Sons of Liberty Spirits Co., South Kingstown, RI. This distillery makes Uprising Whiskey, a whiskey distilled from stout.
South Carolina
Dark Corner Distillery, Greenville, SC. This distillery makes Dark Corner Moonshine, an unaged corn whiskey and is working on Rooster Shine Corn Whiskey and a bourbon.
South Dakota
Dakota Spirits Distillery, Pierre, SD. This distillery makes Coyote 100 Light Whiskey and Bickering Brothers Blended Whiskey.
Tennessee
Collier and McKeel, Nashville, TN. This company distills a Tenneessee Whiskey (using the Lincoln County process) and a white dog whiskey at the Corsair Distillery in Nashville.
Corsair Distillery, Nashville, TN. This distillery has plans for Bourbon. So far, they are marketing Triple Smoke, a malt whiskey; Wry Moon Unaged Rye Whiskey; Rasputin, a hopped whiskey; and they have plans for many other whiskeys including an oatmeal stout and a chocoalte mocha porter. This is their second distillery, the first is in Bowling Green, KY.
George Dickel (Diageo), Cascade Hollow, Tullahoma, TN. The other Tennessee Whiskey, owned by liquor giant Diageo.
Jack Daniel's (Brown Forman), Lynchburg, TN. Makers of the world's top selling whiskey, Jack Daniels is, for much of the world, the first and last name in whiskey, not to mention t-shirts, barbecue sauce and other trinkets.
Ole Smoky Distillery, Gatlinburg, TN. This East Tennessee distillery, which opened in July 2010, makes unaged "moonshine" under the label Ole Smoky Moonshine, including corn whiskey and a number of flavored whiskeys.
Prichard's Distillery, Kelso, TN. This Tennessee microdistillery makes a single malt and a Tennessee Whiskey. It also bottles a bourbon that it gets from another distillery (see independent bottlers, below).
Texas
Balcones Distillery, Waco, TX. This distillery released the first run of their Baby Blue blue corn whiskey in September 2009 and has plans for a single malt. They also make Brimstone Corn Whiskey, a smoky corn whiskey.
Bone Spirits, Smithville, TX. This distillery plans to release Fitch's Goat Corn Whiskey, as well as a vodka, moonshine and gin, in 2012.
Garrison Brothers Distillery, Hye, TX. Garrison Brothers Distillery makes Garrison Brothers Bourbon.
Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling, San Antonio, TX. In 2011, this distillery released its Ranger Creek .36 Texas Bourbon. It is also working on a straight bourbon.
Rebecca Creek Distillery, San Antonio, TX. This distillery is currently making a vodka and a sourced, blended whiskey (Rebecca Creek Fine Texas Whiskey) and plans to release a malt whiskey in 2012.
Utah
High West Distillery, Park City, UT. This Utah distillery has had success as an independent bottler (see below), but they are now also distilling whiskey. Under the Silver Whiskey label they make an oat whiskey and a malt whiskey.
Vermont
Green Mountain Distillers, Stowe, VT. This Vermont microdistillery is currently aging an organic single malt.
Virginia
A. Smith Bowman (Buffalo Trace/Sazerac Co.), Fredericksburg, VA. Buffalo Trace owned A. Smith Bowman redistills whiskey originally distilled at the Buffalo Trace Kentucky distillery. They market Bourbon under the labels Virginia Gentleman, Bowman Brothers and John J. Bowman. They are also making a rye whiskey under the label Abraham Bowman Virginia Whiskey.
Catoctin Creek Distillery, Purcellville, VA. This Virginia distillery makes Roundstone Rye, an organic rye whiskey made from 100% rye as well as Mosby's Spirit, an unaged rye spirit.
Copper Fox Distillery, Sperryville, VA. Makers of Wasmund's single malt whiskey as well as Copper Fox Rye Whiskey.
George Washington Distillery Mount Vernon, VA. Probably the most unique distillery project in the United States. Around 2000, the Mount Vernon trust began excavating the first president's distillery near the estate. They restored the still that he used to make rye whiskey and retained former Maker's Mark distillery manager Dave Pickerell to distill a rye whiskey based on Washington's original recipe. In 2010, they released a very limited bottling of George Washington Rye distilled at Mount Vernon.
Reservoir Distillery, Richmond, VA. This Richmond distillery makes Reservoir Bourbon, rye and wheat whiskey.
Stillhouse Distillery (Belmont Farms), Culpeper, VA. This distillery which formerly made Virginia Lightening corn whiskey and Kopper Kettle three grain whiskey appears to have changed hands and now makes The Original Moonshine Clear Corn Whiskey.
Virginia Distillery Co., Eades Hollow, VA. The Virginia Distillery Company is building a distillery to produce Scotch style single malt whiskey. They currently bottle Scotch under the label Eades Double Malt Whisky. Famed Scotch Distiller Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich is listed as the Master Distiller for Virginia Distillery.
Washington
Bainbridge Organic Distillers, Bainbridge Island, WA. This organic distillery makes Bainbridge Battle Point Organic Whiskey, a wheat whiskey.
Black Heron Spirits, West Richland, WA. This distillery makes Desert Lightning Corn Whiskey as well as a number of other spirits.
Dry Fly Distilling, Spokane, WA. This distillery makes a 100% wheat whiskey and a bourbon and working on a whiskey using a non-traditional grain that they haven't yet named.
Ellensburg Distillery, Ellensburg, WA. In late 2009, Ellensburg released its first bottles of Gold Buckle Club Washington Frontier Style Whisky, a malt whiskey. They appear to be working on a rye as well.
Five O'Clock Somewhere Distillery, Cashmere, WA. This microdistillery makes Block & Tackle Sunshine Corn Whiskey and a moonshine under the Block & Tackle label.
Fremont Mischief Distillery, Seattle, WA. This distillery makes John Jacob Whiskey and bottles two 8 year old Canadian whiskeys under the labels Fremont Mischief whiskey and Commemorative Soldier Whiskey. All are made from a 100% rye mash.
Golden Distillery, Bow, WA. This distillery makes two malt whiskeys: Samish Bay Whiskey and White Gold Whiskey.
Oola Distillery, Seattle, WA. This craft distillery makes vodka and gin and is working on a bourbon for release in spring 2012.
Woodinville Whiskey Co., Woodinville, WA. Working with Dave Pickerell, this distillery makes Headlong White Dog Whiskey and has plans for a wheated Bourbon, under the label JP Trodden Bourbon, to be released in 2013.
West Virginia
Isaiah Morgan Distillery, Summersville, WV. A winery that makes an unaged rye as well as Southern Moon, an unaged corn liquor.
Pinch Gut Hollow Distillery (Heston Farm), Fairmont, WV. This distillery branch of Heston Farm Winery makes Buckwheat Moon, a buckwheat whiskey, and is working on Dixon Corn Whiskey.
Smooth Ambler Spirits, Maxwelton, WV. This distillery produces an unaged bourbon under the label Exceptional White Whiskey and a bourbon under the label Yearling Bourbon. They are also releasing a sourced whiskey under the label Smooth Ambler Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
West Virginia Distilling Co., Morgantown, WV. They distill corn whiskey to use in their Mountain Moonshine Spirit Whiskey.
Wisconsin
Great Lakes Distillery, Miwaukee, WI. In March, 2010, this micro issued a very limited release of Bourbon and they are working on a rye whiskey as well. They also make Kinnickinnic Blended Whiskey, a blend of Kentucky bourbon and malt whiskey made by the distillery.
Old Sugar Distillery, Madison, WI. Makers of Queen Jennie Sorghum Whiskey.
Yahara Bay Spirits, Madison, WI. Makers of Yahara Bay Lightening, and unaged whiskey, and the more aged Yahara Bay Whiskey, both are four grain whiskeys (corn, barley, wheat and rye). They also make Charred Oak Bourbon for RJR Spirits and Death's Door Whiskey for Death's Door Spirits.
Wyoming
Wyoming Whiskey, Kirby, WY. Wyoming Whiskey have plans to make "America's next great bourbon." They started distilling in July 2009.
II. INDEPENDENT BOTTLERS
Technically, not all of the companies listed below are bottlers. Some are simply brand owners that contract out bottling to another company. There are often long corporate and contractual trails that an independent Bourbon takes, from distiller to bottler to brand owner/distributor, which makes it hard to identify who produces, bottles and/or owns any given independently bottled whiskey, but I've done my best to identify what I can.
35 Maple Street Spirits (TOG Wines), Sonoma, CA. 35 Maple is the spirits division of The Other Guys (TOG), a Sonoma wine company run by the Sebastiani family. They bottle Masterson's Rye Whiskey, a Canadian rye, and are planning to bottle a bourbon.
Bardstown Barrel Selections, Bardstown, KY. A bottling company that bottles Dynamic Beverages products (Redemption Bourbon and rye, Riverboat Rye, Temptation Bourbon).
Big Bottom Whiskey, Hillsboro, OR. This Oregon based independent bottler bottles Bourbon made by LDI.
Bitter Truth, Bruggen, Germany. This German company makes Bitter Truth Rye Whiskey, a 24 year old cask strength Kentucky rye whiskey, exclusively for the European market.
Brave Spirits, Narberth, PA. This company markets military-themed spirits, including First In Blended Whiskey, which it says is distilled and aged in Kentucky.
Breckenridge Distillery, Breckenridge, CO. This new distillery is bottling a Bourbon composed of a blend of Bourbons sourced from elsewhere and is working on a malt whiskey.
Bull Run Distilling Co., Portland, OR. This distillery is ageing its own whiskey but meanwhile has released Temperance Trader, a sourced bourbon.
California Vineyards, Inc. (CVI Brands), San Carlos, CA. CVI owns the Black Maple Hill label, which is bottled by KBD and includes premium, aged Bourbons and ryes.
Chatham Imports, New York, NY. This company sells Bourbon and rye under the Michter's label, which is bottled for them by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (see below). Michter's was a Pennsylvania distillery, the last of whose Bourbon is owned and bottled by Preiss Imports (see below). This Michter's brand has nothing to do with that distillery except that Chatham now owns the name.
Chattanooga Whiskey Co., Chattanooga, TN. This company is marketing an LDI whiskey bottled by Strong Spirits under the label Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Reserve.
Cleveland Whiskey, Cleveland, OH. This company is developing an accelerated ageing process to age young whiskey. They are using sourced Kentucky bourbon for their experiments and plan to come out with their first product in 2012.
Conecuh Ridge Whiskey (Spirits Acquisition Corp.), Orange Beach, AL. This Alabama bottler uses Kentucky Bourbon for its Clyde May's Conecuh Ridge Whiskey. The "made in Bardstown, KY" label narrows the suspects to Heaven Hill, Tom Moore or KBD.
Crossroad Vintners, Indianapolis, IN. This distributor markets Backbone Bourbon, a bourbon distilled by LDI and bottled by Strong Spirits.
Diageo, London, UK. The world's largest spirits corporation owns the George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey distillery, but they don't own any Bourbon or rye distilleries. To get into the Bourbon game, they released Bulleit Bourbon, which is made for them by Four Roses, and Bulleit Rye which is distilled by LDI. They also own the I.W. Harper Bourbon label which is now used only for export to Asia, Seagram's 7 Crown blended whiskey and Jeremiah Weed flavored and blended whiskeys.
Death's Door Spirits, Washington Island, WI. This company is working on its own distillery but for now its Death's Door Wheat Whiskey is distilled by Yahara Bay Spirits.
Dynamic Beverages, Norwalk, CT. This company owns Redemption Bourbon, Redemption Rye, Riverboat Rye and Temptation Bourbon. They are distilled at LDI in Indiana and bottled by Bardstown Barrel Selections and Strong Spirits.
Florida Caribbean Distillers, Auburndale, FL. This company bottles Kentucky Old Reserve Bourbon and a number of blended whiskeys, including Kentucky Prize and Alibi.
Foster's Group, Melbourne, Australia. Australian for beer is apparently also Australian for whiskey. Foster's sells Cougar Bourbon and rye in Australia (export only), distilled at Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana (see above).
Frank-Lin Distillers, San Jose, CA. Frank-Lin is a distributor of a number of Bourbon brands of indeterminate origin for which they may also own the brands. They include:
Bourbon Age
Bourbon Club
Buck Bourbon
Joshua Brook
Potter's
They also distribute blended whiskeys uneder the Potter's and Barret's label as well as Wathen's Bourbon, though that brand is owned by the Medley family, formerly of the Medley distillery.
Griffin Ranch Micro Distillery, Swisher, IO. This distillery markets Griff's Cowboy Whiskey, a corn whiskey distilled by the Cedar Ridge Distillery, also in Swisher, Iowa.
Haas Brothers, San Francisco, CA. Haas brothers is a century old spirits importer which has recently revived the Cyrus Noble bourbon brand, which is an independent bottling of a Heaven Hill bourbon.
High Liquors. High Liquors markets vodka, tequila, whiskey and rum under the High label. Their whiskey is a blend of bourbon and rye distilled at LDI. They currently market their spirits only in Kentucky and Indiana.
High Spirits Importing, Addison, IL. This importer sells Whiskey Trails Bourbon, bottled by KBD, as well as Scotch under the Whisky Thieves and other labels.
High West Distillery, Park City, UT. This Utah distillery makes their own oat and rye whiskey but also bottles a number of rye whiskeys and Bourye, a blend of Bourbon and rye whiskey. Their ryes come from the Barton and LDI distilleries and the Bourbon in Bourye comes from Four Roses.
J&M Concepts, South San Francisco, CA. This company produces Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey, a traditional moonshine, made with corn and sugar, distilled near Nashville, Tennessee.
Josiah Thedford & Sons, Louisville, KY. This short-lived company made Thedford Colonial Style Bourbon, which was sourced from a Kentucky distillery. They seem to have gone out of business a few years ago, but bottles remain on some shelves.
Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD), Bardstown, KY. KBD is the big daddy of Bourbon and rye Bottling, and many of their brands are popular and have garnered positive reviews. They own and are rebuilding the old Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, but their current whiskeys on the market are all the products of other distillers. While they distribute some of their own bottlings, they also bottle spirits for other companies, such as Classic Cask and Michter's, and they likely bottle some or all of Black Maple Hill Bourbons and ryes as well.
Classic Cask (bottled for Spirit Imports, Inc., see below)
Corner Creek
Johnny Drum
Kentucky Pride
Kentucky Vintage
Michter's Bourbon and Rye (bottled for Chatham Imports, see above).
Noah's Mill
Old Bardstown
Pure Kentucky XO
Rowan's Creek
Vintage Bourbon and Rye
Whiskey Trails (Bottles for High Spirits Importing)
Willett
Laird & Co., Scobeyville, NJ. The makers of Laird's Applejack also bottle Banker's Club Bourbon and G&W Private Stock Bourbon as well as blended whiskeys under the labels Banker's Club, Five O'Clock, Senator's Club, Kassers 51, Seven Star and Willam Penn.
LeVecke Corp., Mira Loma, CA. This distributor markets Jesse James Bourbon, distilled by an unnamed Kentucky distillery.
Louisville Distilling Company, Louisville, KY. Former Brown Forman distiller Lincoln Henderson has plans for a new microdistillery, but for now is releasing Angel's Envy, a Bourbon distilled elsewhere and then finished in port pipes.
Luxco Inc., St. Louis, MO. Luxco sells Bourbon under multiple brands, including Ezra Brooks, Rebel Yell, Rebel Reserve, Yellowstone, David Nicholos 1843 and Daviess County as well as Wall Street Blended Whiskey.
McCormick Distilling Co., Weston, MO. Unlike some of the entries on this list which call themselves distillers, this Missoui producer is an actual distillery. For years, this distillery made Platte Valley Corn Whiskey at their Missouri plant. McCormick still owns the brand but apparently isn't making the whiskey anymore. No one seems to know for certain who produces it, but given that Heaven Hill is the only macrodistillery producing corn whiskey, they are a pretty safe bet.
McLain and Kyne Distillery (Castle Brands), Louisville, KY. McLain and Kyne bottles Bourbon and rye under the brands Jefferson, Jefferson Reserve and Sam Houston. Their Jefferson Reserve Presidential Select uses bourbon from the old Stitzel-Weller distillery. Based on the use of the Sam Houston label by Three Springs, it appears that they may have sold that label.
Mile High Spirits, Denver, CO. This private bottler opened a microdistillery in 2012, though it is not clear that they are distilling whiskey. They are bottling Fireside Whiskey, a straight whiskey made from undisclosed grain and made at an undisclosed Colorado distillery.
Old Pogue, Campbellsville, KY. Bottlers of Bourbon under the Old Pogue label, they opened a distillery in 2012.
Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, Louisville, KY. Old Rip Van Winkle is the bottling company of Julian Van Winkle whose family owned the old Stitzel-Weller distillery which closed in 1991. The company works in conjunction with the Buffalo Trace distillery which makes much of their Bourbon and rye whiskey, but some of their older bottlings include old stocks from Stitzel-Weller.
Paramount Distillers, Cleveland, OH. This company sells Gold Award Blended Whiskey, Blanchard's Blended Whiskey and plans to release Rod & Rifle Kentucky bourbon.
Phillips Union, Princeton, MN. This company bottles Phillips Union Whiskeys, flavored whiskeys (cherry and vanilla) as well as a blend of Bourbon and Canadian Whisky, Paddleford Creek Bourbon and Broken Bell Bourbon.
Preiss Imports (Anchor Distillery/Griffin Group), San Diego, CA. Preiss imports is a bottler and importer that bought up the old stocks of A.H. Hirsch from the closed Michter's distillery in Pennsylvania. (The Michter's name is now used by Chatham Imports to bottle unrelated whiskey). They are bottling the last of the old Michter's Bourbon as A.H. Hirsch, but they are also using the Hirsch name on a variety of whiskeys, including a Canadian whisky, a rye and an "American whiskey," none of which appear to have any relation to A.H. Hirsch.
Prichard's Distillery, Kelso, TN. This Tennessee microdistillery makes its own rum and malt whiskey; they also bottle a Kentucky Bourbon under the label Prichard's Double Barreled Bourbon Whiskey.
Prohibition Spirits, Sonoma, CA. This company bottles Hooker's House Bourbon, a Kentucky bourbon which they finish in Pinot Noir casks.
Royal Wine Corp., Bayonne, NJ. This kosher wine company is the distributor of the only certified kosher Kentucky Bourbons -- Old Williamsburg and Peter Jake's.
RJR Spirits, Marietta, GA. This company produces Charred Oak Bourbon, which appears to be distilled by Yahara Bay Distillers in Wisconsin.
Smooth Ambler Spirits, Maxwelton, WV. This microdistillery is releasing a sourced bourbon distilled by LDI under the label Smooth Ambler Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Spirit Imports, Inc., Sunrise, FL. This is the distributor and may also be the owner of the Classic Cask line bottled by Kentucky Bourdon Distillers (see above).
St. George, Alameda, CA. This distillery makes its own malt whiskey but also makes Breaking and Entering Bourbon, a blend of Kentucky bourbons.
Strong Spirits, Inc., Bardstown, KY. This Bardstown company bottles 80 Strong Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (distilled by Heaven Hill), Big Ass Small Batch Bourbon, Shippen Bros. Bleu Sky Rye and James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon and Rye (distilled by LDI). They also bottle whiskeys for Dynamic Beverages and bottle Backbone Bourbon for Crossroad Vintners.
Templeton Rye, Templeton, IA. This Iowa company's Templeton Rye uses rye distilled by Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana (see above).
Tennessee Spirits Co (Capital Brands LLC), Pewaukee, WI. Marketers of Breakout Rye and Jailers Tennessee Whiskey. The company is owned by Florida based Capital Brands and also seems to go by or be affiliated with Midwest Custom Bottlings.
TerrePure Spirits (Terressentia Corp.), Ladson, SC. This company buys spirits, including whiskey, and treats them with its TerrePURE process which it claims "uses ultrasonic energy-driven oxidation to complete reactions that fail to complete during the primary distillation," thereby removing cogeners. The company then bottles the spirits under private labels for restaurants, hotels, retailers, etc.
Tipton Spirits, Brazil, IN. This bottler makes W.H. Harrison Indiana Bourbon, which is probably distilled at LDI.
Three Springs Spirits, Bowling Green, KY. This bottler bottles Sam Houston American Straight Whiskey. They may have purchased the brand from McLain and Kyne.
Vision Wine & Spirits, Secaucus, NJ. This importer/marketer markets John B. Stetson bourbon, a Kentucky bourbon that apperas to be distributed by Frank-Lin.
Wathen's Bourbon, Owensboro, KY. Wathen's Bourbon is owned by the Medley family, formerly of the closed Medley distilley, which is owned by Angostura who may or may not reopen it. Wathen's is distributed by Frank-Lin (see above).
WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham, VT. Founded by former Maker's Mark Master Distiller Dave Pickerell, WhistlePig is a microdistillery with plans to make rye whiskey. For now, they have bottled a Canadian rye as WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey. WhistlePig Rye is imported and bottled by Raj Peter Bhakta's Goamericago Beverages.
Wylie Howell Spirits, Walnut Creek, CA. Wylie Howell Whiskey is a corn whiskey distilled by Stillwater Spirits in Petaluma, CA to the specifications supplied by Wylie Howell Spirits.
If you know of any brands or distilleries not mentioned on this list, please let me know, and if you are from one of these distilleries, I'd love to hear from you about your plans and progress.
