Run by Joyce (the master distiller) and Autumn Nethery, Jeptha Creed Distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky, is producing some of the most unique American whiskies today. Its signatures include the addition of Bloody Butcher corn – which the family grows itself on a 64-acre farm – and the high percentage of malted grains in its whiskies’ mash bills, between 25-30%. Of the craft American whisky distilleries whose bottles I’ve tried so far, Jeptha is certainly in my top two favorites if not my favorite. Its profiles are so unique and have a beautiful earthy sweetness and depth that reminds me of a hybrid between a very earthy, grain-forward bourbon, a sweeter rye whisky, and elements of single malt/malt whiskies.
A beautiful dark amber/copper in the glass, the Red, White, and Blue Bourbon is made from a mash bill of 25% Bloody Butcher corn, 25% heirloom white corn, 25% Bruce’s Blue corn, 20% malted rye, and 5% malted barley. Aged for a minimum of four years in Kelvin Cooperage American White Oak barrels, it is bottled non-chill filtered at 100 proof (50% ABV).
Both the aroma and flavor profiles combine elements of a grain-forward bourbon with a sweet and spicy rye whisky, single malt whisky notes, and a light smokiness. Aromas of earthy, musky grain sweetness mixed with dark berries, baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves), toasted oak, herbal notes, caramel, vanilla, orange zest and peel, roasted kettle corn, leather, and honey roasted notes waft out of the glass.
On the palate a bright earthy sweetness leads off the sip mixing with fruity caramel, vanilla, the baking spices from the nose with a more prominent showing from the cloves, black pepper and rye spice, herbal notes including mint, toasted oak, roasted nuts, punchy orange peel, ginger, balanced oak tannins and anise bitterness, and a light smoke.
The viscosity in the glass is very oily and it coats the palate with a buttery, creamy quality for quite some time leading into a long 12-13 second finish on which all of the main flavors make an appearance. This is a delightfully earthy bourbon that more than holds its own against many bottles coming out from legacy and larger craft distilleries. Not only that, but it’s one of the best bourbons that I’ve tried so far in the three years I’ve really been exploring spirits of all types and whiskies specifically.
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