Kentucky Artisan Distillery has just rolled out two new whiskeys that showcase what happens when you combine traditional methods with modern equipment. The Crestwood operation announced the release of KAD High Rye Bourbon and KAD Four Grain Bourbon, both carrying the Bottled in Bond designation that's become a mark of quality in the whiskey world.
These aren't the distillery's first rodeo. The company released its Artisan Series about a year back, and the reception pushed them to expand the collection. Both new offerings follow the same path as their predecessors—grain to glass, all handled at the facility just outside Louisville.
What Makes These Whiskeys Different
Image credit: Kentucky Artisan Distillery
The High Rye expression lives up to its name with a mash bill running 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. After four years in the barrel, it comes out at 100 proof. The rye takes center stage here, delivering spice notes that get balanced out by the other grains. There's a dryness to the finish that bourbon drinkers who like things on the cleaner side will appreciate, with just enough caramel sweetness to keep it interesting.
Image credit: Kentucky Artisan Distillery
The Four Grain takes a different approach. At 67% corn, 12.5% rye, 12.5% wheat, and 8% malted barley, this one spreads the flavor across more ingredients. Also aged four years and bottled at 100 proof, it presents milk chocolate and fresh bread on the nose. The wheat softens things up while the rye adds a bit of kick, and all four grains make their presence known on the palate. The finish stays clean with a sweetness that hangs around.
Master Distiller Jade Peterson oversees production from start to finish. "Kentucky Artisan Distillery blends old world craft with modern production facilities to produce some of the finest whiskeys on the market," Peterson said. "We released our Artisan Series a year ago and the response has been so strong, that we knew it was time to add to the portfolio. These Bottled-in-Bond expressions are infused with the quality and authenticity that are the hallmarks of Kentucky Artisan Distillery."
The Bottled in Bond Standard
The Bottled in Bond designation isn't just marketing speak. It's a federal standard that's been around since 1897, originally created to guarantee quality when whiskey fraud ran rampant. To earn the label, a bourbon has to be the product of one distillation season from one distillery, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof. Both new releases from Kentucky Artisan Distillery meet these requirements.
This standard gives drinkers a baseline guarantee about what's in the bottle. No cutting corners, no mixing batches from different years or locations. What you get is straightforward bourbon made according to rules that have stood the test of time.
From Field to Bottle
Kentucky Artisan Distillery doesn't truck in grain from hundreds of miles away. The corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley used in these bourbons come from fields about a mile down the road. Peterson's team handles everything that happens next—milling, mashing, distilling, aging, and bottling—all at the Crestwood location.
This farm-to-bottle approach isn't common among production distilleries. It gives the team control over every variable that affects the final product, from the quality of the grain coming in to the conditions in the rickhouse where the barrels rest.
The Contract Distilling Business
Steve Thompson, Chris Miller, and Mike Loring founded Kentucky Artisan Distillery back in 2012. Their initial vision centered on contract distilling—making whiskey for other brands that wanted to enter the market but didn't have the capital or infrastructure to build their own facilities. They called it a place where people could come and "bottle their dreams."
At launch, Kentucky Artisan Distillery became the first Kentucky operation focused specifically on contract work. They built the place to handle everything from tiny runs of ten barrels for special occasions up to production batches exceeding 2,000 barrels annually for retail partners. That flexibility set them apart in a state packed with distilleries.
Contract distilling remains the core business today. The facility crafts custom whiskeys and bourbons according to client specifications, then moves into bottling and co-packing work that can process up to 1,000 cases daily. Brands you see on shelves might have their liquid made in Crestwood even if the label doesn't say Kentucky Artisan Distillery.
General Manager Mark Emberson noted the operation's position heading into the new year. "Our flexibility and inventory have served us well – even during this challenging time – and we enter 2026 in a very strong position," Emberson said.
How They Taste
Image credit: Kentucky Artisan Distillery
The High Rye Bourbon announces itself with rye spice right away when you pour it. There are floral notes underneath, along with warm baking spices that make you think of cinnamon and clove. Orange peel shows up next, followed by light caramel. The grain character stays prominent while oak hangs back in a supporting role rather than dominating the show.
Taking a sip, the structure becomes apparent without feeling heavy. That rye spice hits first, then moves aside for sweet corn, toasted grain, and soft toffee. The alcohol heat integrates smoothly rather than burning. The finish comes in dry and clean, with the spice leading and that gentle caramel note providing a counterpoint. Oak doesn't muscle its way in at the end, letting the grain and spice elements carry through.
Image credit: Kentucky Artisan Distillery
The Four Grain Bourbon takes a softer approach from the start. Honey, milk chocolate, vanilla cream, and fresh bread dominate the nose. The grain notes take the lead with oak staying subtle and supportive rather than assertive.
On the palate, everything feels balanced and rounded out. The sweet corn and wheat provide softness that makes this an easy sipper. Rye adds light spice to keep things from getting boring, while malted barley brings depth to the overall profile. The flavors lean toward caramel, vanilla, and cereal grain instead of heavy wood influence.
The finish runs medium length and clean, with sweetness lingering and just a touch of gentle spice. There are no heavy tannins or drying oak effects that can make some whiskeys feel astringent at the end.
Where to Find Them
Starting February 1, Heritage Distributors will handle distribution throughout Kentucky for both new releases. Bars, restaurants, and liquor stores across the state will stock them. Each bottle carries a suggested retail price of $49.99.
For those who want something even stronger, barrel strength versions of both the High Rye and Four Grain will be available exclusively at The KAD Clubhouse. That's the distillery's tasting room and retail space at 6316 Old La Grange Road. The entire Artisan Series pours there as well.
The Clubhouse operates Friday and Saturday from 11:00am to 6:00pm and Sundays from noon to 6:00pm. While they encourage reservations through the distillery's website, walk-ins get served as long as space allows. It's worth the trip for anyone serious about tasting whiskey where it's actually made.
The Craft Tour Connection
Kentucky Artisan Distillery sits on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, which highlights smaller operations doing things differently than the big names everyone knows. These craft stops often offer more personal experiences with the people actually making the whiskey rather than just viewing production from behind ropes.
The facility also serves as home to brands like Whiskey Row, which is produced for Avalon Brands. This contract work funds the operation and allows Kentucky Artisan Distillery to experiment with its own releases like the Artisan Series.
What This Means for Bourbon Drinkers
The bourbon market has exploded over the past fifteen years, with allocated bottles commanding ridiculous prices and everyday drinkers struggling to find quality whiskey at reasonable costs. These new releases sit in an interesting spot—aged four years with Bottled in Bond credentials, priced under fifty dollars, and made by a distillery with serious production chops.
The High Rye offers something for those who like their bourbon with more backbone and spice. The Four Grain provides an alternative for drinkers who prefer softer, sweeter profiles. Both deliver complexity without requiring a mortgage payment to acquire.
Kentucky Artisan Distillery's expansion of its Artisan Series shows confidence in a market that's been unpredictable lately. Some smaller distilleries have struggled as consumer spending tightened and the flood of new releases made shelves crowded. The fact that they're adding to the lineup rather than pulling back suggests they've found an audience willing to buy what they're making.
For bourbon drinkers tired of chasing hype or paying secondary market prices, these releases offer something straightforward—well-made whiskey from grain grown nearby, distilled and aged by people who know what they're doing, bottled at a proof that doesn't water down the flavor, and priced where a regular person can actually afford to drink it more than once a year.
That's the kind of bourbon that keeps people coming back, which is exactly what Kentucky Artisan Distillery seems to be banking on as they move into 2026.
