Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. is a must-stop if you're in bourbon country. The distillery experience is top-notch--we did the tour and tasting and loved the unique "thieve your own bottle" straight from the barrel. It doesn't get more authentic than that. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and you can tell they really care about what they're doing. The whole property adds to the charm--beautiful views, a relaxed atmosphere, and even some animals wandering around that make it feel like a true Kentucky experience. As a Harvest Hosts location, it's one of the best we've stayed at. Plenty of space, peaceful setting, and just an all-around great place to spend the night after enjoying some bourbon. Highly recommend whether you're stopping in for a tasting or staying overnight--you won't be disappointed. read more

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Though it was extremely hot outside, I enjoyed taking the tour with my husband and friends. I'm not a bourbon drinker but it was cool hearing about the process from our tour guide. The grounds are beautiful and they even had a few cute little goats roaming around. The staff is super friendly and engaging. They don't serve food here but did supply small bags of pretzels. They also served bourbon slushes which one of my friends LOVED. read more

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Different than most distilleries,straight from the barrel tasting .relaxed environment and knowledgeable staff.Goats ,black cat and bourbon slushy all wonderful.it was a really hot day a cooler day would have been perfect. No food read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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What an incredible and unique concept in bourbon country. The tasting room is a casual fun atmosphere filled with barrels. They have no full bottles so you taste directly from the barrel and if you find one you like as I did, you get to fill it yourself from the barrel. Each barrel is different and no barrel will be available twice so once it's gone it's gone which means you get a unique product every time you go. The staff was wonderful and knowledgeable and helpful when filling your bottle. Definitely a must visit! read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

We took a scenic drive through farms and fields on our way to the Uncut & Unfiltered Experience at Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.. Dave & Ranger were our tour guides who did a good job of telling the origin story of this operation and sharing their beliefs on whiskey production. Dave, who seemed like a nice, whiskey loving guy, was happy to entertain questions which I recommend coming prepared with, as the talking part of the tour seemed more suited for those that prefer brevity. We moved into the thieving area which felt cozy despite the large barn style of the edifice. We learned a little about what made each labeled barrel in front of us and were provided samples in a commemorative glass that the staff thieved. I'm glad we enjoyed what we tasted as we ended up purchasing a bottle to take home that we got to thieve ourselves directly from the barrel. At the time you could only get this whiskey at the source. The grounds were well utilized and helped to curate the experience. We enjoyed the drive in, the picnic like feel on the patio, flora as far as you can see and the transparency of it all as we tasted whiskey straight from the barrel in the middle of their operation. I cannot comment on the food truck. As we were the first tour of the day we didn't have an issue with parking but closer to the time we left the logistics of the general in/out of guests and parking had degraded. Be aware the restrooms may not meet everyone's needs. We don't regret going and recommend it for those seeking something relaxed and smaller scale after having done some of the bigger more organized tours. Don't forget to tip Ranger with pets. (Ranger is the dog). read more

Went to whisky Thief Distillery over the weekend. We took the full tour, which I did learn a little more about bourbon. The tastings are quite generous and the bourbon is unfiltered and straight from the barrel. They had a very good food truck, cocktails and music. A nice afternoon. read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

On the way back to Ohio we saw a sign on the freeway for this distiller and we decided to make a side trip and head on over. Its located on the most beautiful farm. We made our way back to the distillery. The still is gorgeous. The staff nice. Very dog friendly place (which was good as we came with a dog). The gift shop is cute. Lots of products to choose from. We purchased some gin... which is surprising as the name is whiskey thief but we preferred their gin- lol. The bourbon they make is delicious. However they run between 130-170 bucks. So we chose gin $99. Still, wowzers. Guess we got caught up in a moment as I don't think any alcohol is worth that price. Lol. Staff was the best staff we have run into in months. Knowledgeable, fun and kind. We enjoyed our short stay. read more

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This was one of the more unique experiences on the bourbon trail. We went in not knowing what to expect on a. Tasting and to our surprise we got a keepsake taster and got to taste from 5 barrels direct all the whiskeys were good with 3 out of the 5 being options for us to bottle. You are able to fill your own bottle of whiskey from any of the barrels which was definitely an experience. Compared to other distilleries, I thought the pricing was definitely worth it for the bottle. The tasting on the other hand was a little overpriced but for us it was still very worth it and one of our favorite distilleries all weekend. Lastly, the Photo Booth was a nice touch and made the experience that much more enjoyable! Overall, I would recommend any and everyone to check out Whiskey Thief if you are looking for a unique experience on the trail. Please note, I did not take a tour so I'm not sure what that would be like. It is included with your tasting admission. read more

Whiskey thief might be my new favorite distillery! Our guide had a good sense of humor and was also very knowledgeable. Forget his name but he had a nostalgic handlebar mustache The tour was the perfect amount of information and tasting. I liked how we were able to taste the 5 barrels in our own timing. The live music and food truck was a great surprise. read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Rick house - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Started our day with an early morning tour and tasting. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable providing a great low-key, hands on experience. If the weather had been less humid, we would have hung out even longer enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, scenery, and amenities. A must stop for a straight forward, no frills bourbon experience with a great group of people. read more

Whiskey Thief is absolutely amazing place. I toured multiple distilleries on the Bourbon Trail and this was by far the best experience! read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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This was definitely the most interesting and unique of the distilleries I visited this trip. When i pulled i it reninded me of where i grew up . . . . cornfields all around. It definitely looked and felt like a farm. I was there on a Thursday morning so there was only one other personon the tour. Actually I was late for my tour time, called and got on the next one, so the other guy would have gotten a personal tour on his own if i had remembered how time zones worked. (Tip to remember if traveling east.) Our tour guide was excellent! Casey, Carrie, mabe something close to that . . . . maybe that's not even close. (I really should be more present.) I was a little early (tecnically a little late) so i had 2 of my 5 tastes befote the tour. These were also the two i ended up purchasing a bottle of. One was the wheated and the other the highest proof. Bothe were excellent. Since they were thieved right from the barrel there was a little char in the tasting glass, which you get to keep. (Take notes other distileries. Only one other has done this.) The char in the glass was so cool! The tour was confined to the one building, but being a small(ish) operation it made sense. You could buy the bourbon there but the gift shop was nearer to the entrance (which was convenient sine i came back, deciding i wanted a few staves for a project I'll most likely never get to. But my Jeep smelled nice and toasty for the remainder of the drive. Back to the tour. I learned a lot. I really enjour the history of owners and name changes, especialy how the origional name eventoualy came back just by adding the word "distilling". Apparently that makes all the difference in the eyes of the law. After the tour I had my other 3 tastes and asked our guide to full my bottles. Sure, i could have done it, but wasted the picture to post. If you try something you like, bear in mind that it's not in a store near you, and they seem to like it that way, so be sure to take some with you. I would say most of my distillery stops will be "one and done", even the places i really enjoyed, but I'll be stopping her again if I'm passing through this way again. Did i mention the food truck/stand? Definitely worth sticking around an extra half hour for. read more

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Terrific old school distillery in a lovely country setting. Tastings are right in the distillery barn, siphoned directly from the barrel. Interesting how different the exact same mash bill can taste from the barrel it is aged in. Super nice and informative staff, worth a visit. read more

Average experience and I really cannot support the porta potties. Please updgrade to a portable trailer at minimum. Need somewhere to wash your hands. Generally OK but tour was really lacking. Its all about filling your own bottle and they are liberal with the tastes. read more

As a self-proclaimed bourbon snob, Whiskey Thief has been on my radar for quite some time -- and I finally had the chance to visit their distillery. What makes Whiskey Thief truly special is their approach: no blending, no guaranteed flavor profile, and no two barrels alike. Every offering is a single-barrel bourbon -- one of a kind. For me, that's part of the fun. One of the best things about bourbon is discovering something new, and Whiskey Thief guarantees that with every pour. Now, while the bourbon and overall experience were excellent, I do have a few thoughts on the traffic flow and guest logistics that could make visits even better. When you drive onto the property, you'll pass the gift shop and look down to your left to see the main facilities. From there, you can already spot the crowd and the cars surrounding the area. We drove down the hill and were lucky enough to find a good parking spot. Once parked, we made our way through the crowd at the front of the barn and found the check-in station. After checking in, we waited for our tasting time. The current setup keeps everyone gathered near the barn entrance, which makes it tricky to navigate between the tasting area, the outdoor seating, and the food truck -- especially when it's busy. When our tasting time arrived, our excellent guide David gathered the group and led us to the rickhouse. He was informative, entertaining, and clearly passionate about bourbon. The tasting itself was fantastic -- we sampled a variety of barrels, each one distinct and full of character. It really showcased the uniqueness of their single-barrel philosophy. After returning to the main barn, the crowds had grown significantly. We enjoyed trying a few more samples, but it became increasingly difficult to move around. As we headed to our car, we noticed a full-size bus arriving -- and that's when the fun really began. By that point, there were already three buses in the parking area, two of which were trying to leave as the new one was coming in. What followed was a bit of a traffic circus: buses jockeying for position, cars attempting multi-point turns, and others pulling off into the grass just to get out of the way. We decided to wait it out until the congestion cleared. Before leaving, we stopped at the gift shop -- which had plenty of "must-have" bourbon treasures -- and wrapped up our visit on a high note. A few suggestions that could help improve the guest experience: Station an employee near the gift shop to monitor and manage traffic flow. From that vantage point, they can see when the lower area gets congested and pause additional vehicles from driving down until space clears. Create a looped exit route so that cars and buses can enter and exit in one direction. This would prevent the gridlock that happens when vehicles meet head-on. Relocate the tour meeting area away from the front of the barn. The crowd bottlenecks there, making it hard for guests to move between the tasting area, food truck, and seating. Overall, I truly enjoyed visiting Whiskey Thief. The concept is brilliant, the staff is passionate, and the bourbon is excellent -- bold, unique, and full of surprises. Once the logistical flow of cars and people is refined, it'll be an even smoother and more enjoyable experience. Highly recommend for any bourbon lover looking for something different read more

An absolutely delightful hidden gem! Great vibe, incredible experience. Tasting bourbon drawn right out of the the barrels. A classic tail bar and food truck options made this a welcome surprise on a Saturday afternoon. There happened to be live music while we were there. The bourbon is good. Definitely worth putting thing on your bourbon trail itinerary. For us locals, it's a great choice to take friends and guests to. read more

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Hands down one of the best small distilleries we have been to over the years. We were trying to find new to us small distilleries to visit this trip and we did find the one!! We visited just a few days ago and they had two anniversary barrels out to sample and thieve your own bottle from. The vibe of the place was awesome!! So friendly and the owner Walter was there and he even signed our bottles! The bourbon is amazing and the fact that you bottle your own and can only buy it there is something special. The pet goats were hilarious and added to the atmosphere. Definitely put this one on your list to see and sample and buy!! The staff was so friendly and welcoming and they had live music and a fire going and since it was on Halloween they had donuts out as well. So glad we were able to visit. read more

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I had the chance to visit WTD on Good Friday. I expected a small space with maybe a tasting or two of bourbon that was good,but not expectional. What I found was a group of enthusiastic men and women who truly loved their product and were extremely knowledgeable about what it means to be successful in a very saturated Kentucky bourbon industry. First, I loved their tour. It was quick, it didn't require a ton of history and repetative facts about bourbon that are often very cookie-cutter. It was very much about their business, how they evolved and where they are at now. The tour itself was less than 10 minutes, which was an amazing record! Immediately after the tour, we went right into the tasting experience... The Tasting. To say I was a fan is an understatement. Was all 5 of the bourbon/whisky I tasted exceptional? No. However - the experience of having tastings straight from the barrel is something not a lot of places do unless you pay extra money, and this was something built into the tour itself. I loved getting to be part of that. I also really enjoyed that as an add-on YOU could be the one doing the thieving from the barrel and filling up your own bottle to take home. All in all,this was an incredible experience- one that I will definitely do again if I get the opportunity. read more

Whiskey Thief went out of their way to make our Special day, Getting Married, an exceptional delight! It is a small, single barrel experience that gives you many options to choose from on their Whiskey. When we were there, we had a choice of 6 different selections, and I got 3 bottles of exceptional Whiskey. Everyone from the owner, Walter, to Mike the manager, to the 4 other assistants where amazing to work with, taste whiskey, and make our day something to really remember. I would HIGHLY recomend this place, especially after all the big time tours, this smaller batch place is AMAZING!!! I look forward to working with them to get a barrel when it comes time for me to retire!!! read more

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Totally cool experience. Once you've seen the whiskey making process you've seen them all, it would seem. But this experience is one of a kind. Super knowledgeable staff. Up close tour of how they make and distill and aged. Getting to sample/taste all of the different mash builds and various different barrel options. Like putting in the "whiskey thief" device into the barrel hence the name of this place. This means it includes barrel char totally unfiltered. You can bottle your own and use the "Whiskey Thief" yourself. Really a fun and educational experience read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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We had an Amazing distillery tour. Warm friendly staff. This was one of the best distillery's we have been to. High recommended read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

I'm going to be brutally honest here. Do not go on a Saturday. It's so crowded you can hardly get to the tasting area to get your samples. There will be no where to sit and enjoy the music and atmosphere. Parking will be hard at best. We walked in and had no idea what to do as there was no one welcoming us. Our tour started late. The tour consisted of standing in front of the Rick house and listening to our tour guide David talk down another distillery. The hi-lite was Ranger walking over for pets. The goats were caged the whole time so we didn't get to interact with them. We also didn't try the food because once again, no where to sit and enjoy. That being said, we will give them another chance because we want to see and hear all the things when it's not so packed and will request a different tour guide. The lady at the gift shop was wonderful. I forgot to get her name. She answered the questions I would normally ask the tour guide. Didn't go home with any bourbon this round as we didn't fight our way to get a taste of all of them. Did take home a bottle of their Pecan Pie Foggy Dog that we tasted at the gift shop.(peep one of my dogs with the foggy dog) Hopefully our next experience will be so much better. read more

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We had an absolute fantastic time. David, our tour guide was the best. If I could give 15stars I would. The atmosphere was the best. Laid back. Comfortable. The bourbon was awesome. Uncut. Unfiltered. How it should be. Being able to thief my own bottle was another great part of the experience. read more

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I don't know who has rated this place in prior reviews. Overrated and horrible experience. Our guide was some old hippie dude, which is fine, but all he could talk about was getting wasted on whiskey and/or vodka. This appealed to the bachelor party group in our tour and another attendee who knew nothing about whiskeys or bourbon. The "getting wasted" lecture went on for about 30 min in front of the barrel barn as the rest of us in the tour group stood there awkwardly not knowing how to act or what to say. The rest of the group was quiet and had that "what have we gotten ourselves into" look. Which led to boredom. My wife and I left when the hippie guide indicated it was time to go taste. We did an Irish goodbye and couldn't get to our car fast enough. I wouldn't have cared if the whiskey tuned me into a god, it wasn't worth listening to old hippie continue to promote getting wasted. I don't remember if I pre-paid for this tour, but leaving was better than staying. My summary: this is a stop for the 22-32 yr olds who don't know anything about whiskey or bourbon. This is a "just drink and get sloshed" distillery. If any of the other reviews were not in this age range, they don't know anything about whiskeys or bourbon. My other observation, there were TONS of tour buses there, which means, the tours were taking people to low end places where whiskey/bourbon knowledge is not a criteria, meaning not educated or serious about quality or taste. Use number of tour buses in the parking lot as a measure of how serious the distillery is relative to their audience. Buses full of bachelor parties, guys weekend or guys golf weekend = not serious or educated drinkers. Speaking of parking lot, there was haphazard parking either in the grass or wherever you could find a spot. TAKE THIS IFF YOUR LIST! AVOID AT ALL COST!! read more

Love that this property allows dogs. We had ours with us so that was the main reason we stopped. There is a gift shop when you enter the property. Once you follow the long driveway you will find the tasting room. The driveway accommodates 1 car comfortably so look ahead before proceeding down the road. We checked in for our tour and were given the option to tour or go straight to the tasting since they are the same price.  Due to time constraints we chose the tasting. There are 5 barrels that samples are served directly out of but besides a board with mash bills there was no additional information given which was a little disappointing. The experience was unique and the property was very enjoyable. read more

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We have been to many of the distilleries along the bourbon trail and this one was one of our favs. Nestled right on a working cattle farm, this distillery is unique. Our tour guide was super knowledgable, along with his dog Ranger. The bourbon here is amazing!! Such good juice. The tasting was super chill, with chairs and tables to just relax and enjoy. Then you can bottle your own at with a whiskey thief at the end. Super cool experience, loved it! read more

Good whiskey and neat experience!! We liked the high octane whiskeys even though that's not normally our top choice. read more

If you're doing the bourbon trail and don't stop at The Whiskey Thief, did you even bourbon? For just $35, it's all-you-can-sip no judgment, no tiny pours, just good times and great whiskey. Pro tip: start with the rye... and maybe end with the rye. It's that good. Your liver might not thank you, but your taste buds sure will. read more

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What a cool tasting experience! Directly right out of the barrel into my glass. I enjoyed one particular barrel so much that I did purchase a bottle of it to take home. I'll be back for more when I'm in town! Highly recommend! read more

This was my second trip to Whiskey Thief. Some friends joined us for this years bourbon trail expedition and I wanted to share this place with them. I really like being able to sample the whisky right out of the barrel. The ocassional char flake doesn't impact the taste, it just adds to the ambiance. I enjoyed all 5 barrels, but one rose to the top for my pallet. The location is beautiful and I really like the relaxed tasting atmosphere....sipping and enjoying whiskey at your pace. read more

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Vic: I want to say thank u, thank u. Thank u for an amazing day, experience, and time we had with wonderful time. You provided excellent personal service for us, and we're grateful for you being you and helping us with everything. Even when the lunch spot that was planned was closed Vic was able yo adjust the plan and get us to a local staple BBQ place which was good and still kept us on time for the rest of the day. Amber and Bob, You guys have a great treasure with Vic. He is truly an inspiration and genuinely caring... We had an amazing time, and yes.Whiskey Thief was the perfect ending for our tour, we'll be back next year. read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Trying a new Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

The thieving from the barrel experience was so much fun. Great whiskey and the little barrel char at the bottom of the bottle makes it a unique experience. This is a must do! read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Whiskey Thief - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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Gorgeous grounds and such a cool experience getting to thieve the whiskey! We did it as part of a tour and I was so happy it was our last stop because it was my favorite! read more

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Angel provided the best distillery visit we had during this years round of bourbon tours. She was awesome!

I'm an admitted bourbon neophite, so if you're a bourbon aficionado looking for advice on bark and color and mash variety and whatever else you care about, you might want to move along. While in Louisville for the Bourbon and Beyond music festival, we decided to make the 50 minute drive out to visit Whiskey Thief. Glad we did. It's a small operation so the tour may not be as elaborate as larger distilleries, but it felt more personal. We got lucky doing the first one of the day and had a private tour for our small group. Lots of interesting tidbits about the history of the distillery and their process with a 5 barrel tasting at the end. Loved filling our own bottles and having tasted a dozen bourbons over 4 days, I'd rank a couple of the Whiskey Thief selections in the top 10. The people were friendly, their food was surprisingly good and the outdoor seating set-up felt like some of the smaller wineries in Sonoma. Would definitely recommend adding to your itinerary, especially if time is a concern as they are located a short drive off the main highway. And for any bourbon aficionados who got this far, you should add Bourbon and Beyond to your plans. 20+ distilleries pouring tastes and cocktails and a killer music line-up. read more

This is a very different tasting experience. It's single barrel and represents a small production distillery. The staff is great at explaining the selections and will not rush the tasting experience. I like the option of bottling my own bottle using the whiskey thief device. I would recommend doing this stop toward the end of the day and finish with a pour of your favorite selection while sitting outside. It has a great view of the countryside. read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - The view from Whiskey Thief Distillery. - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

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I spent a lot of time doing whiskey tasting in Louisville. Many places are great but whiskey thief in Frankfort was the best. Do not pass go just go their for great unfiltered barrel proof whiskey. What a great experience. This is what whiskey tasting should be. Such a different experience than the mass produced whiskey. Do this read more

Overall was an excellent experience. Really like the personal touch and it was extremely small. Start to finish in one location and it's not mass produced. Very interested in the cask strength single barrel tasting. Never had it that way and I really enjoyed it. I would highly recommend this being one of the ones we stopped at. It is not what you would normally expect from the traditional buffalo trace or Cask. read more

Whiskey Thief Distilling - Warehouse - Distilleries Near Me - Frankfort, Kentucky

A unique distillery tour experience worth the drive. A working farm area off the beaten path with a warm and friendly staff. You drive a gravel path (leave your low ride vehicles at home) to the barn/ workhouse about a mile into the property and get to sample 5 whisky's direct from the barrel. You can choose how slow or quick you do it and wander about the facility, or sit out by the bonfire, in between. If you fall in love with one you can fill your own bottle with the Thief tool (have long arms or someone to hole your bottle). If you don't, no worries....you get to keep the tasting glass. read more

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from the drive up and the beautiful farm setting to the smiles on the staff it was a wonderful experience! its a smaller facility, but it really stands up to the experiences of all the rest on the bourbon trail. informative tasting straight from the barrels at a relaxed pace making it feel as if your part of the family. HIGHLY RECOMMEND PS- the bourbon is delicious too!! read more