Reflection of place
Our Sense of Place
The combination of climate, water, and conditions for growing grain is what attracted us to make whiskey in this far corner of Kentucky.
Water
Water is the starting point for any whiskey. Good water (among other things) is necessary to make good whiskey. Great water is a must to make great whiskey. Jackson Purchase Distillery is situated atop a limestone aquifer, which serves as a natural filter. That limestone filters water flows from a calcium-rich well, drilled on-site. We’re blessed to have a plentiful supply of great water.
Grain
Grains become the heart of any whiskey. Our location in the rich Kentucky Grain Belt puts some of the most select grains nearly at our doorstep. Our farmer partners benefit from the rich, black soils, which are composed of sand, silt, and clay, fed by the bottomlands of the nearby Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.
100% Copper
Tradition dictates that we use 100% copper stills. So does taste. Copper promotes esters, which bring fruity, aromatic properties to your whiskey, while also neutralizing undesirable compounds and off-flavors. Copper also leads to a smoother, more refined mouthfeel than stainless steel.
Climate
If we have an ace in the hole, this is it. Jackson Purchase Distillery benefits from the warmest and longest summers in the state of Kentucky. With warmer weather, aging whiskey spends more time seeping into the staves, taking on the notes that whiskey lovers appreciate, such as vanilla and caramel, as well as toasty notes like maple and coffee. Reviewers often say whiskeys produced here look, smell, and taste up to two years older than they are.