Olivia Taylor
The Background of Peerless Distillery
“We’re an unusual Kentucky bourbon distillery,” Caleb Kilburn, Master Distiller of Peerless Distillery said. “The differentiating factor with Peerless is that we’re a small, craft distillery. We only produce bourbons that are truly unique from our competitors.”
Peerless Distillery, located in the heart of Bourbon Country in Kentucky, was built in 1889. Back then, it was one of the largest bourbon distilleries in the country. However, during the Prohibition era, the distillery was shut down and eventually fell into disrepair. However, it was restored to its former glory by Corky and Carson Taylor, a father-and-son team.
They re-opened the distillery in 2015 and started making rye whiskey, a bold move in a market that was largely dominated by bourbon. Their rye whiskey was well-received and won numerous awards. Then, in 2019, they took another ambitious step and decided to release their first bourbon in a century.
The Challenges of Making a Unique Bourbon
“We wanted to make a bourbon that’s completely different from any other bourbons on the market,” Kilburn said. “We wanted to take the path of most resistance.”
Peerless Distillery faced several challenges in making their first bourbon. For one, they wanted to use a unique, non-traditional recipe. Most bourbons are made from a mash bill of corn, rye, and barley. However, Peerless decided to use a mash bill of corn, wheat, and malted barley. This recipe is rarely used in bourbon production, primarily because wheat is more expensive than rye.
In addition, Peerless wanted to use a slow, meticulous distilling process. Instead of rushing through the distillation process, they decided to take their time and distill the bourbon slowly to extract as much flavor as possible. This extended the distillation process to almost 11 hours per batch, which is much longer than the average distillation time of most bourbons.
Age it Until it’s Ready
Peerless also decided to age their bourbon for at least four years, longer than the legal minimum of two years for a bourbon. They wanted to make sure that the bourbon had enough time to develop its flavors and mature.
The combination of these factors made for a unique tasting experience. Peerless’ bourbon has a smooth, well-rounded flavor profile with notes of caramel and vanilla. It’s a bourbon that can easily stand up against some of the best bourbons in the market.
The Future of Peerless Distillery
Peerless Distillery continues to push the envelope in the bourbon and rye whiskey markets. Their commitment to using unique recipes and their slow distillation process sets them apart from other craft distilleries.
They’re also dedicated to using locally-sourced ingredients, supporting Kentucky’s local farmers and industry. They plan to continue experimenting with new recipes and release new, innovative products. For bourbon whiskey lovers, Peerless’ bourbon is definitely worth a try, particularly if you’re in the market for something unique and bold.
