J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery
Where Bourbon Doesn’t Choose You—You Choose the Bourbon
Sitting just steps from Buffalo Trace at 20 Reilly Rd in Frankfort, Kentucky, J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery occupies a rare position on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Eastern Route. Surrounded by legendary names, this is a place that refuses to blend into the background. Instead, it hands you the keys to the barrel and asks a simple question:
What should your bourbon taste like?
This isn’t a distillery where you’re told a story and handed a sample. This is a distillery where you take part—nose deep in glass, proof on your palate, building bourbon one decision at a time.
Bourbon Built by You, Backed by History
Founded by a family with over 175 years of Kentucky whiskey heritage, J. Mattingly 1845 balances tradition with rebellion. The history is real, but the approach is personal. Here, bourbon isn’t treated as a finished product—it’s a conversation.
Small-batch blending. Barrel-strength bottling. Wax-dipped finishes. Custom labels. Every experience is designed to put the drinker in the driver’s seat while respecting the craft that came before.
🥃 Bourbon Experiences & Tours
🎨 Custom Bourbon Blending Experience
The Signature J. Mattingly Experience
This is where J. Mattingly separates itself from the rest of the Trail.
Step into the blending room and build your own bourbon from a curated lineup of bourbon, rye, and light whiskey barrels. Guided by experienced blenders, you’ll nose, taste, and tweak until the profile matches your palate—sweet, spicy, bold, smooth, or unapologetically powerful.
Once the blend is dialed in:
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Bottle your creation
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Choose your wax color
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Customize your label
You don’t just leave with a bottle—you leave with your bourbon.
📅 Available daily
⏱️ 60–75 minutes
🎟️ Reservation required
🥃 Includes custom bottle + souvenir tasting glass
Perfect for gifts, groups, or anyone who wants bourbon that exists nowhere else.
🥃 Traditional Guided Tasting Tour
A Straight Pour Into the J. Mattingly Style
For those who want to understand the house before building their own, this guided tasting introduces J. Mattingly’s blending philosophy and flavor range.
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Tour the small-batch blending and bottling space
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Taste a rotating lineup of flagship and limited-release expressions
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Learn how heritage and innovation collide in every bottle
Relaxed, approachable, and flavor-forward—this is a great entry point for newcomers and seasoned drinkers alike.
📅 Daily | ⏱️ ~45 minutes
🚶 Walk-ins welcome | Reservations recommended
🛢️ Single Barrel Select Experience
One Barrel. One Bottle. No Repeats.
For collectors and serious bourbon hunters, this is the deep end.
Sample hand-selected single barrels, choose your favorite at barrel strength, and bottle it yourself. Finish it with your choice of wax and label for a truly one-of-one expression.
📅 By appointment only
👥 Ideal for small groups & private tastings
This is bourbon without dilution—yours and yours alone.
🔥 What Sets J. Mattingly 1845 Apart
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Hands-on custom blending
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Barrel-strength, small-batch releases
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Personalized wax and label options
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Over 175 years of Kentucky bourbon heritage behind every pour
It’s bourbon that respects tradition but refuses to be passive.
🛍️ Take Your Bourbon Home
After your experience, linger in the tasting room and shop for:
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Distillery-only single barrels
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Barrel-strength blends
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Limited and seasonal releases
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Custom-labeled bottles with personal flair
Whether you came to create or to collect, you’ll leave with something that doesn’t exist anywhere else.
🕰️ Plan Your Visit
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery
📍 20 Reilly Rd, Frankfort, KY
Hours:
Monday–Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
🎟️ Book your experience at jmattingly1845.com
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery
Bourbon With Your Name On It
Whether you’re deep into the bourbon world or just discovering your palate, J. Mattingly 1845 offers something rare on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®—control.
Come for the flavor.
Build the bourbon.
Leave with a bottle that answers only to you.
