In the quiet town of Hickman, nestled in the far reaches of Western Kentucky, a new star is rising in the world of bourbon. Jackson Purchase Distillery, a relatively new player in the industry, is making waves with its top-quality bourbon and ambitious expansion plans. Located where Kentucky meets Tennessee and Missouri along the Mississippi River, this distillery is quickly gaining a reputation for excellence.
Image credit: Jackson Purchase Distillery
Jackson Purchase Distillery is spearheaded by a dream team in the bourbon world: Master Distiller Craig Beam and Assistant Master Distiller Terry Ballard. Both hailing from Bardstown, Kentucky, the heart of bourbon country, these men bring decades of experience and a wealth of knowledge to the table. Craig Beam, a seventh-generation distiller from the famous Jim Beam family, spent 35 years at Heaven Hill, earning numerous awards for his exceptional work. Terry Ballard, known for his tenure as Lead Distiller at Willett, has a reputation for crafting some of the finest whiskey in Kentucky.
Under their leadership, Jackson Purchase Distillery is undergoing a $25 million expansion. This massive investment will allow the distillery to ramp up production to meet the growing demand for their bourbon. “Right now we have produced more than 40,000 barrels for our customers and we’re just getting started,” Beam said. The word about their high-quality whiskey has spread, attracting a steady stream of customers.
A key part of the expansion is the installation of a new 36-inch column copper still, a piece of equipment that Ballard proudly describes as both beautiful and effective. "Our new 36-inch column copper still is beautiful and it’s already putting out very, very good whiskey,” Ballard noted. Copper stills are preferred in the distilling process because they interact with alcohol in a way that enhances the final product's flavor and quality. “Back in the old days, in the old school of distilling, your still had to be copper. Copper impacts your beer differently than stainless steel, so it produces, in my opinion, a finer whiskey,” Ballard explained.
The expansion also includes the addition of 10 new 20,000-gallon fermenters and the construction of two new rick houses, each capable of holding nearly 25,000 barrels. These new facilities are set to be operational by the end of 2024, significantly boosting the distillery’s production capacity. With two stills now operational, Jackson Purchase is expected to produce over 60,000 barrels in 2024.
Beyond the technical upgrades, the expansion will also have a positive economic impact on the local community. The project is expected to create 20 new jobs, increasing the distillery’s workforce to 50. This growth will provide much-needed employment opportunities in Fulton County and strengthen the distillery's connections to local farmers. “We plan to source more than one million bushels of local grain from Western Kentucky farmers this year alone,” Beam said. Additionally, the distillery will provide spent mash, a byproduct of the distilling process, to local farmers for use as livestock feed, free of charge.
The Process of Crafting Kentucky Bourbon at Jackson Purchase Distillery
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Age-Old Traditions
At Jackson Purchase Distillery, the team honors age-old traditions of bourbon making while incorporating innovation and creativity. Using time-tested methods for milling, cooking, and mashing, they ensure each batch retains the authenticity of traditional Kentucky bourbon. Their versatile cooking and mashing systems accommodate both classic and custom mash bills, allowing them to craft unique and exceptional bourbons.
Local Grains & Relationships
The key to Jackson Purchase Distillery’s exceptional bourbon lies in the natural ingredients they use, sourced from the fertile lands of Western Kentucky. This region, with its rich soils of sand, silt, and clay, provides ideal conditions for growing high-quality grains. The distillery has established strong relationships with local farmers to procure the finest corn and wheat, ensuring that every bottle of Jackson Purchase bourbon is rooted in the best that the region has to offer.
It All Starts With The Water
The foundation of their bourbon’s quality is the water they use. Beneath the rich black soil of the river bottomlands and the rolling hills of Western Kentucky lies an abundant supply of fresh, calcium-rich water. This water, drawn from their on-site well, is crucial in the distilling process, imparting a unique sweetness and enhancing the overall flavor profile of their bourbon.
Aging & Warehousing
A significant portion of Kentucky bourbon’s flavor—up to 70%—comes from the wood of the new charred white oak barrels in which it ages. The hot and humid summers of Western Kentucky are perfect for bourbon aging, as the whiskey expands into the wood, absorbing deep, rich flavors. Jackson Purchase Distillery and its warehouse are located in the warmest part of Kentucky, giving their bourbon a distinct edge.
What Sets Jackson Purchase Distillery Apart?
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Jackson Purchase Distillery is dedicated to crafting the finest true Kentucky bourbon. Here’s what makes them unique:
Our Team & Unique Collaborative Approach
Led by Master Distiller Craig Beam and Assistant Master Distiller Terry Ballard, Jackson Purchase Distillery boasts one of the most experienced teams in the industry. Their unique collaborative approach allows customers to send their own experts to work alongside the distillery team, ensuring the development of high-quality, exclusive products. This custom distilling program leverages over seven generations of distilling knowledge and heritage to create exceptional Kentucky bourbon for each brand.
Client-Focused Philosophy
Without their own brands, Jackson Purchase Distillery is entirely focused on their customers' success. They aim to help clients produce award-winning, leading brands by ensuring their products exceed all expectations.
Custom Mash Bills
The distillery produces both multi-generational heritage Kentucky mash bills and innovative new mash bills that cater to evolving consumer tastes. Whether running a client’s own mash bill or creating a custom one, their expert distillers use their extensive knowledge to elevate each product to its highest potential.
About Jackson Purchase Distillery
Image credit: Jackson Purchase Distillery
Every barrel produced by Jackson Purchase Distillery reflects a deep commitment to quality and tradition. With Beam’s meticulous attention to detail and dedication to his family’s legacy, each barrel is a testament to the rich heritage of Kentucky bourbon.
Jackson Purchase Distillery, founded in 2021, is quickly establishing itself as one of Kentucky’s fastest-growing distilleries. Specializing in contract distilling, they produce new-fill barrels of bourbon for craft brands, distillers needing additional capacity, and companies looking to purchase barrels for future sales. With over 40,000 barrels produced and stored for their customers to date, and a target of producing over 60,000 barrels in 2024, Jackson Purchase Distillery is on a path to remarkable growth and success.
Jackson Purchase Distillery stands as a testament to the blending of tradition and innovation in the pursuit of crafting the finest true Kentucky bourbon. With a foundation rooted in heritage Kentucky distilling knowledge and a commitment to leveraging cutting-edge distillery technology, they spare no expense in ensuring excellence.
Located amidst flourishing pecan groves and towering cottonwoods, Jackson Purchase Distillery operates with a singular focus: to produce the pinnacle of Kentucky bourbon for discerning customers worldwide. Balancing age-old distilling techniques passed down through generations with state-of-the-art technology, they uphold the craft of whiskey making as their highest priority.
Central to their pursuit of perfection is the insistence on using only the finest equipment. Their artisan 100% copper 24” still, crafted by the esteemed coppersmiths at Vendome Copper and Brass Works in Louisville, Kentucky, epitomizes this commitment to quality. With a tradition of excellence spanning four generations, Vendome ensures that every drop of bourbon produced is as smooth as the patina of the still itself.
This premier 100% copper Vendome still, paired with the expertise of a 7th generation master distiller, forms a formidable combination for success. From Vendome Column Stills to Condensers and Doublers, every piece of equipment at Jackson Purchase Distillery is meticulously selected to uphold their standard of excellence.
In essence, Jackson Purchase Distillery represents a harmonious fusion of tradition, technology, and expertise—a carefully curated distillery dedicated to producing the finest Kentucky bourbon imaginable.
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