TOURS
TOURS: $20 (includes a tasting)
Tour Duration: 1-1.5 Hours
On our tour, Royce Neeley will teach you about our unique family history, followed by a guided walk through the distillery by a team member to see our day to day operations. The tour concludes with a tasting of our spirits made on site at our distillery. When available tastings of our white dog from the still and our fermenting mash will be included (If you are lucky you might even meet Pawpaw!). After the tour you will have a guided tasting through 8 of our products. Children or dogs are welcome but must be behaved.
Tour Schedule
Monday-Saturday: Tours are at 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm.
Sunday: Tours are at 1:30pm and 3:30pm.
Only parties of 10 or more need to call ahead! Walk-ins for tours or tastings are welcome (parties of 10 or more please call ahead).
If you do not have time for a tour, walk ins for tastings are available at each half hour. A tasting is $20 per person.
For inquires about private tours, private or corporate catered events, please call for more information.
BOTTLE YOUR OWN SINGLE BARREL BOURBON STRAIGHT FROM THE BARREL: $39.99
Don't forget to take home a bottle of our Neeley Family Distillery Bourbon. PS, you get to bottle it. A perfect unique gift for any occasion.
OUR HISTORY
Neeley Family Distillery is a small family owned and operated venue located in the rolling hills of the Kentucky bluegrass. The Neeley Family has been distilling and bootlegging illegally in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky for Eleven generations until 2015, when Tenth Generation Roy Neeley and Eleventh Generation Royce Neeley took the family business legal for the first time ever.
Roy hand built the state of the art distillery himself in Sparta Kentucky, 1/2 mile from Interstate 71, a few miles from Belterra Casino, and 200 yards from the grandstands of the Kentucky Speedway where NASCAR fans come each year to watch high speed races. Royce, who is the Lead Distiller and possibly the youngest Distillery Owner in the World, makes his spirits the historic way with old family mash recipes using Pot Stills, Cypress Fermenters, Sweet Mash, only the finest local grains, the freshest Kentucky Limestone water, and the Neeley Family Yeast Strand which is propagated at the distillery. All of our spirits are non-chill-filtered, preserving the unique natural flavor of each one.
The Neeley Moonshine recipe is still revered as the best in the Eastern Kentucky Mountains, Roy and Royce uphold that same quality in the authentic spirits they distill today, the only difference is the taxes that are now paid. The Neeley Family is devoted to honoring the craft of their forefathers through the production of high quality spirits; the family is literally distilling history every day. Through this devotion, Royce believes the Family is distilling some of the best Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey in the World.
Robert Roy Lee Neeley
Robert David Royce Neeley
Earl "Pawpaw" Sizemore
OUR PRODUCTS
Kentucky single barrel straight bourbon
A constant rotation of three different single barrel, barrel strength recipes is available in our gift shop.
In 1740 James Neeley illegally distilled the first Neeley Family Whiskey in America using skills passed down to him by his Irish forefathers. 11 generations later our lead distiller Royce Neeley uses many of these same skills to distill the "Highest in Quality" Bourbon whiskey you are holding. Our family bourbon is sweet mashed using fresh non-gmo local grains and pure Gallatin County, Kentucky limestone water. It is then fermented in open-top cypress at cool temperatures, allowing our yeast ample time to produce their great flavors. Royce then triple pot distills his bourbon on the grain, cutting out the impurities using his taste buds only; the traditional way. Royce then enters his whiskey in local Kentucky made barrels and allows mother nature to take over.
Our bourbon is non chill filtered and bottled at barrel proof right out of the barrel, preserving the rich flavor of the bourbon (you might even see char dust from the barrel in bottle). This bourbon is of the same high quality that has allowed our family distilling tradition to survive both legally and illegally 11 generations.
Proudly distilled and hand bottled by the Neeley Family Distillery INC.
Rye Whisky is available in our giftshop.
Most Rye Whiskeys have traditionally been cooked and distilled the same way since prohibition. Our 11th generation distiller Royce Neeley operates outside the confines of the norm. He cooks our rye at lower temperatures and utilizes a proprietarily charged copper thumper on the third pot distillation, bringing out the sweeter notes of the rye grain.
Proudly distilled and hand bottled by the Neeley Family Distillery INC.
R.D.r Neeley Sweet Thumped
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
In 1881, James Jett joined his three brothers Joseph, George, and Albert to establish a distillery located at the confluence of
Kentucky and Ohio Rivers near Carrollton, Kentucky. The Jett Brothers Distilling Co. Mashed 248 bushels per day, yielding 20 full barrels of
Kentucky Bourbon. Unfortunately, the Jett Brothers Distillery did not survive Prohibition.
What remains of the original distillery is located about 10 miles from my current distillery, and as such much of the terroir influence that was found in the Jet Brothers Bourbon is also found in the taste profile of my bourbon.
Apricot Brandy Finish - Wheated Bourbon finished for 8 months. 112.5 proof
French Cognac Finish - High Rye Bourbon finished for 7 months. 109.9 proof
Portuguese Madeira Finish - High Rye Bourbon finished for 7 months. 109.7 proof
Barbados Column Distilled Rum Finish - Wheated Bourbon finished for 9 months. 109.1 proof
New Toasted French Oak - High Rye Bourbon finished for 14 months. 106.5 proof
Double Barreled New Charred French Oak - High Rye Bourbon double oaked for 14 months. 109.8 proof
French Chateau Rieussec Sauternes Finish - Wheated Bourbon finished for 14 months. 114.4 proof
Types of finishes
the Old jett brothers
Kentucky Straight bourbon Whiskey
Series one:The Hidden Barn Small Batch is produced at the Neeley Family Distillery (DSP-KY-20039) Sparta, KY, with a 70% Corn, 20% Rye, 10% Malted Barley mash bill. The Small Batch is fermented for five days using wild-caught Kentucky yeast and Northern Kentucky aquifer water. It is then double pot distilled and collected at 127 proof. The distillate is then matured in a two-year seasoned American white oak barrel and filled at 110 proof using only a Sediment filter.
SERIES: ONE
BATCH #001 | 106 PROOF | 7 BARRELS
Curiously complex and ever evolving, leading with toasted coconut, caramel corn, and anise
BATCH #002 | 110 PROOF | 7 BARRELS
Bold spice and rich depths of dark fruit
BATCH #003 | 106 PROOF | 4 BARRELS
Balanced baking spice and brown sugar
BATCH #004 | 110 PROOF | 8 BARRELS
Rich custard and sweet cherry, followed by playful white pepper and spearmint at the top of the palate
BATCH #005 | 106 PROOF | 15 BARRELS
Buttery and honey forward, balanced on the palate with approachable baking spice and candied citrus
BATCH #23A | 107.4 PROOF | 22 BARRELS
Butterscotch and milk chocolate, followed by rich viscosity and full spice on the finish
SERIES: TWO
BATCH #001 | 112 PROOF | 10 BARRELS
Juicy overripe blackberry, sweet concord grape, smoky undertones, milk chocolate, roasted nuts, and fresh mint
BATCH #002 | 109.6 PROOF | 10 BARRELS
Sweet candy orange and brown super nose open up to an herbaceous and subtle char smoke dry palate
series
Hidden Barn
Kentucky Straight bourbon Whiskey
old pap neeley's reserve
kentucky bourbon barrel aged moonshine
single barrel / bottled in bond
THE OLDEST AGED MOONSHINE EVER SOLD ON THE LEGAL MARKET
“I was told that on the day of my Great Grandfather "Pap" Neeley's funeral, the preacher man said, “Some people say he's 99 years old, some say he's 100, and others say he's I01. Today we’ll just call him 100." No matter what his age actually was, Pap Neeley was a whiskey distilling legend and icon in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. He passed away in 1991, the same year I was born. I decided to take his world-famous triple pot distilled moonshine recipe and mature it in my one-time used Kentucky Bourbon barrels. This one of a kind moonshine is as much of a legend as the man it is named after."
Absinthe Fear and Loathing in Kentucky
The Writer's Choice
This spirit has been inspired by American Journalist, Author, and
Louisville, Kentucky, native Hunter S. Thompson. Thompson was
known to enjoy many creativity enhancers, including Absinthe
Our Absinthe Verte is created from an 1871 Old World Swiss style
recipe that includes eight different botanicals. This botanical recipe
includes Wormwood, Fennel, and two types of Anise. Using our
Eastern Kentucky family moonshine recipe as a base, it creates a
one-of-a-kind Kentucky style Absinthe Verte, and our coloring herbs
create a natural vibrant green hue.
We hope you find this Absinthe Verte as inspiring and creatively
strange as the world found Thompson's Gonzo style of journalism.
Lightly Filtered for flavor enhancement: If you notice any sediment
in your bottle, simply swirl and enjoy! The sediment is from the
coloring herbs and spices.
AUTHENTIC kentucky moonshine
My Family’s bread and butter for over 100 years. This is my great grandfathers original shine recipe, which he altered from the old family recipe in 1913 with the addition of sugar. Still to this day, you can find some of this clear floating around illegally in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky; left over from a time when my family shot first and paid taxes…never. My great grandfather Leonard had a specific way he made his liquor, running it through his still 3 times with a thump keg attached. We use the same method today on copper pot stills we custom built allowing us to operate like my great grandpas still, a still that we have on display in our gift shop. Our moonshine contains all local grains, fresh Kentucky limestone water, and a unique yeast strand my family has been using for 150 years, which we propagate in our distillery. These factors together result in what is still known as the best liquor in the Kentucky Mountains, an extremely smooth and unique product that only a Neeley can make. Available legal for the first time ever in 2017.
APPEARANCE
Each label is hand written by a Neeley, where bottles and batches are individually numbered. Crystal clear moonshine so pure it attracts the eye, and magnifies our unique labels, which allow the consumer to view an article published in 1898 about a Neeley moonshiner. This unique article discusses my great-great grandpa Jesse Neeley, calling him a moonshiner who was known for shooting at all federal marshals who he encountered.
NOSE
Light buttery corn paired with sweet cane and ripe granny smith apples.
PALATE
120.2 proof heat burst forward in the front of the mouth followed by a relaxing and flavorful can and buttery sweet taste with no heat. There is no burn as it moves down the back of the palate and down the throat. It enters smoothly into the stomach where a heat sensation is felt. The over balance of cane flavor instead of corn allows this shine to mix well with any cocktail that is sweet or citrusy, unlike most shine that have an overbearing corn taste
southern dew CHOCOLATE moonshine truffle
The chocolate Moonshine truffle is a perfect blend consisting of an Irish cream base with chocolate fudge, vanilla, and walnut flavors. This cream spirit is suited for any occasion in any season. Our chocolate truffle should have a shelf life of well over two years and does not need to be refrigerated.
APPEARANCE
Individually numbered batches which are hand written on every bottle. A dark bottle to protect the cream base from direct sunlight and compliment the cream-colored label. The spirit itself is a milky cream color enriched with hints of a chocolatey brown.
NOSE
Strong chocolate cream scent with hints of walnut, vanilla, and fudge.
PALATE
A delicate creamy chocolate fudge in the front followed by vanilla and walnut flavors. The spirit coats your mouth and tongue leaving a sweet taste with hints of moonshine to savor.
Southern Dew Orange moonshine Creamsicle
The Orange Moonshine Creamsicle is a perfect blend consisting of an Irish cream base with orange cream flavors. This cream spirit is suited for any occasion in any season. Our orange creamsicle should have a shelf life of well over two years and does not need to be refrigerated.
APPEARANCE
Individually numbered batches which are hand written on every bottle. A dark bottle to protect the cream base from direct sunlight and compliment the cream-colored label. The spirit itself is a milky cream color enriched with hints of a orange cream.
NOSE
Strong orange cream scent with hints of vanilla.
PALATE
A delicate orange cream in the front followed by vanilla flavors. The spirit coats your mouth and tongue leaving a sweet taste with hints of moonshine to savor.
Southern Dew Bourbon Ball moonshine
The Bourbon Ball Moonshine is a perfect blend consisting of an Irish cream base with dark chocolate and southern pecan cream flavors. This cream spirit is suited for any occasion in any season. Our Bourbon Ball should have a shelf life of well over two years and does not need to be refrigerated.
APPEARANCE
Individually numbered batches are hand written on every bottle. A dark bottle protects the cream base from direct sunlight and compliment the cream-colored label. The spirit itself is a milky cream color enriched with hints of dark chocolate and pecans.
NOSE
Strong dark chocolate scent with hints of pecans.
PALATE
Delicate dark chocolate in the front followed by pecan flavors. The spirit coats your mouth and tongue leaving a sweet taste with hints of moonshine to savor.
Pawpaw Sizemore's Kentucky Salted Caramel Whiskey
This takes me back to the days of caramel apples as a kid. This sweet treat will have you reminiscing about the good ole days but at 70.2 proof don’t reminisce too much!
APPEARANCE
Caramel brown colored transparent liquid. Pawpaw Sizemore on the front welcoming you to try his favorite flavored whiskey.
NOSE
Immediate caramel aroma followed by a hint of marshmallow and vanilla.
PALATE
Like the nose, there is an immediate burst of salted caramel. This caramel then gives way to the light sugary flavor of toffee and burnt marshmallow.
Pawpaw Sizemore's Kentucky Cinnamon Whiskey
Do you remember sucking on cinnamon candy as a kid? This will certainly take you back to those days with a complimentary 71.2 proof kick!
APPEARANCE
Very bright red color inside the bottle. Papaw Sizemore on the cover daring you to try this offering!
NOSE
Sweet cinnamon candy throughout.
PALATE
Huge cinnamon burst at the beginning followed by a natural sweetness from the grain that balances the flavor out and calms the cinnamon storm.
APPLE pie moonshine
Apple Pie flavored shine has become as unique on the illegal shine market as moonshine itself. You can line 100 illegal bootleggers and they will all have an apple pie flavored shine consisting of all different taste profiles. This is our master distillers take on what he thinks apple pie should taste like, a recipe he crafted when he was not so legal. Custom blended in house in batches of 100 gallons or less with all natural flavors used. Our moonshine it is the real deal stuff and will never freeze.
APPEARANCE
Individually numbered bottles and batches which are hand written on every bottle. Deep caramel cinnamon mix that looks like the crust on a freshly baked apple pie.
NOSE
Crisp apple jumps out immediately followed by potpourri and hints of clove.
PALATE
Mild apple at fore palate followed by a burst of brown sugar, cinnamon, cider, and clove all at once. Finishes with a smooth warm light apple that lingers on the palate.
lemon drop moonshine
Have you ever eaten a lemon head candy? That is the flavor our master distiller envisioned before he began developing our lemon drop moonshine; something different from the others. He takes natural lemon flavoring and incorporates it into a 100 gallon batch using our 11 generation moonshine, cane sugar, and pure limestone water. The result is a sweet lemon flavored moonshine with a flavor like you dipped a lemon in sugar then bit into it. Can be enjoyed on the rocks or used in various mixed drinks. As with all our moonshine it is the real deal stuff and will never freeze.
APPEARANCE
Individually numbered bottles and batches which are hand written on every bottle. Vibrant yellow coloring that stands out on a shelf that also showcases the transparency associated with moonshine.
NOSE
Light floral lemon followed by a sweet and subtle maple.
PALATE
Sweet fruit loops cereal flavor at the beginning followed by a more sweet than citrus lemon finish that lingers on the palate and warms in the stomach.
sweet tea moonshine
Anyone south of the Mason-Dixon line knows there is nothing more refreshing than an ice cold glass of sweet tea. We take our natural sweet tea flavor then custom blend it in house with the perfect amount of sugar and of course our 11 generation family recipe shine, straight from the still, in 100 gallon or less batches. Our master distiller believes this recipe creates a sweet tea with a punch that can be enjoyed on the rocks as well as in cocktails. As with all our moonshine it is the real deal stuff and will never freeze.
APPEARANCE
Individually numbered bottles and batches which are hand written on every bottle. Light caramel brown that glows like the tea you used to enjoy as a kid in the southern summers.
NOSE
Very sweet black tea aroma with hints of maple and candy sugar
PALATE
Powerful cane sugar sweetness at the front of the palate followed by a vibrant black tea finish on the end that lingers on the tongue for seconds after. Followed by the subtle heat of the moonshine. Very balanced cane sugar to tea flavor.
SOUTHERN blackberry moonshine
A crowd favorite! Whether you are a fan of sweet flavors, or tend to enjoy something a little more mellow, the southern blackberry moonshine is sure to please. Our take on blackberry moonshine makes you feel like a kid in the candy shop. The subtle sweetness of southern blackberries mixed with the cane sugar notes of our 120.2 proof moonshine produces the perfect flavor palate.
APPEARANCE
Individually numbered batches which are hand written on every bottle. Vibrant purple, like the turn of your hand after picking blackberries from a grove on a summers eve.
NOSE
Juicy berries dipped in sugar with hints of vanilla and rose.
PALATE
Succulent blackberry juices at the front of the palate accompanied by a mellow sweetness, producing floral flavors which are followed by the subtle heat of moonshine.
CONTACT
SAY HELLO
Phone: 859.609.3641
OUR ADDRESS
Distillery Address:
4360 KY-1130
Sparta, Kentucky 41086
Please call for mailing address
OPENING HOURS
Monday: 11am-6pm
Tuesday: 11am - 6pm
Wednesday: 11am - 6pm
Thursday: 11am - 6pm
Friday: 11am - 6pm
Saturday: 11am - 6pm
Sunday: 1pm-6pm