Touring the Willett distillery

[Bourbon Joe]

I'm gonna do my darndest to keep the price as reasonable as possible. I do have a waiting list, but y'all got first dibs anyway so no worry.

God bless ya lass.
Joe

[bourbonv]

Bob,
I would be happy to describe the experience but I do not want to steal LeNell's thunder and bragging rights. That trip was her party so I will leave it up to her to describe the experience.

Mike Veach

[bourbonv]

I had dinner with Drew Kulsveen on Monday and we discussed the distillery. The boilers are installed and the grain elevators are being installed. They hope to be making whiskey in September with a big opening party during the Bardstown Festival. I hope they finally gets it all together and makes this happen.

[fricky]

Mike,
That is great news. Hopefully, I will be able to visit their distillery in September.
Doug

[Brewer]

Mike,

Thanks for the update. Your last post on the Willet distillery was 3 years ago, and the Kulseveen's are still installing equipment! What a long process. How long ago did they actually start? I am glad to read that they may begin distilling in September. I hope that happens.

[bourbonv]

The KUlsveens, Evan in particular, are very smart people and have a great sense of doing business the old fashioned way and not building unreasonable debt that will be a weight around their neck as they do business. The result is that when they start distilling, hopefully in September, they will be mostly free from debt and able to do as they wish as far as making whiskey. I believe Drew is sincere when he says he will make the whiskey any way you like. If you want low distillation proof and a barrel proof of 100, he will make it for you and screw the accounts. Its your whiskey, you do it the way you want to do it. They have been working on the distillery for about 20 years all told, but I would say construction began in earnst about 10 years ago.

[cowdery]

It has been "right around the corner" since at least 1991, so I tend to be a little skeptical.

[Rughi]

...The result is that when they start distilling, hopefully in September...

Does anyone know if there any new developments in the last few weeks?
I'm really looking forward to the day.

Roger

[bourbonv]

I was at the bourbon dinner at the Bourbon's Bistro last night. Drew was the host for the dinner which featured Willett single barrel, Johnny Drum and Noah's Mill. A very good dinner. In any case, keeping fingers crossed, the distillery should be opened by this fall.

[bourbonv]

It is January 2012 and they have distilled and barreled some whiskey at the Willett distillery. Congratulations Evan, Drew and the rest of the family. I look forward to drinking some of the bourbon you make at the distillery. It has been a long time coming, but I think it will be worth the wait.

[Bourbon HQ]

It's always "we'll be distilling by September"! It's been like that since 1991.

[Bourbon Joe]

Looks like they have filled their first barrel from the Pot Still. Column Still still had problems. I've heard the white dog was very tasty. Good luck to everybody involved down there to get those stills crankin and get something ageing.
Joe