Observations from KY:
They don't mess around when they make the stuff. This is done on an industrial scale even for the so called 'handmade' brands.
Maker's Mark will show you a quaint little still operation and want you to believe it's their sole plant. In truth, since they are on literally every bar in the country they run a huge operation out of sight to the tourists.
The interior of a rickhouse smells like heaven. They could rent recliner time in one.
The bottling line at Jim Beam is a blur. Their still (one of 2) is 60 feet high and three tall men couldn't get their arms around it. The distillate runs out of there like a firehose.
The bottleneck in the production line is cooperage. Beam alone barrels 1,000 barrels a day. They represent about 40% of the industry.
There are 8 million barrels aging in KY.
It's a money printing machine. The various taxes represent about half the final cost. The distiller/bottler has a couple bucks into each bottle, they make a couple bucks on each, the rest is distribution and tax - and advertising.
Beam is owned by the Japanese (Suntory), as is Four Roses (Kirin). Wild Turkey is owned by Groupo Campari (Italy).
Woodford is made using Scottich style pot stills, three in series.
Fermenting vessels are 10,000 gallons or so. They pitch hundreds of gallons of working yeast into the wort at the start and it's fermenting like a rolling boil in short order. They have chilling coils to keep it from getting hot enough to kill the yeast. Fermentation is done in 3 days, unlike beer which takes maybe 10 days. The idea is to keep the 'distillers beer' from being contaminated.
Then it's off to the still which are mostly made by a company called Vendome. They are stunningly beautiful pieces of metalwork.
If you like our national drink, you should make it point to visit Kentucky and see it made. The tours all exit to the gift shop. They don't compete with the package stores in price, but they do have special releases available at the distillery.
If I had to pick one tour it would be Buffalo Trace in Frankfort. The tour was very good, free, and the tour guides are not as scripted as some of the others. They directly answer intelligent questions.
I'll drink to that.
