SHELBYVILLE, Ky. — Jeptha Creed Distillery is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a bourbon that brings together a decade of farming, distilling and experimentation — and nine different varieties of heirloom corn — in a single bottle.
The Shelbyville distillery will debut its new Jeptha Creed Solera Aged Bourbon during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, set for Sept. 10-13 in Bardstown. The 100-proof release combines whiskey produced from every heirloom corn variety Jeptha Creed has grown and distilled since opening in 2016.
For the family-owned distillery, the release represents something of a liquid history of its first decade. Owned by mother-daughter duo Joyce and Autumn Nethery, Jeptha Creed has built its identity around an “Our Farm to Your Glass” philosophy, with heirloom corn grown on the family’s farms in Shelby County playing a central role in its whiskey production.
Over the past decade, Jeptha Creed has grown and distilled nine heirloom corn varieties: Bloody Butcher, Bruce’s Blue, Blue Clarage, Hopi Blue, Hickory King, Jimmy Red, Oaxacan Green, Pink Heirloom and White Cob White.
The new Solera Aged Bourbon brings all nine together for the first time. Rather than simply blending finished barrels, Jeptha Creed is using a solera aging process in which younger bourbon is systematically transferred into older barrels. The method allows whiskeys made with the different corn varieties to integrate and develop together over time.
The result is intended to showcase both the individual characteristics of the heirloom grains and the cumulative influence of Jeptha Creed’s decade-long exploration of corn varieties.
“When we started the distillery ten years ago, we knew we wanted to build something that began with the land and the grain we grow here on our family farm,” said Joyce Nethery, Jeptha Creed master distiller and CEO. “Over the years, we’ve learned something new from each whiskey release along the way. This Solera Aged Bourbon represents a decade of hard work, dedication and patience. It’s a reflection of where we started, how far we’ve come and what makes Jeptha Creed who we are today.”
Jeptha Creed Solera Aged Bourbon is bottled at 100 proof and uses a mash bill of 75% heirloom corn, 20% malted rye and 5% malted barley.
The whiskey’s use of nine corn varieties is particularly fitting for Jeptha Creed. While bourbon must contain at least 51% corn in its mash bill, the distillery has spent much of its first decade exploring how different corn genetics and flavor characteristics can influence the finished whiskey.
That grain-focused approach has helped distinguish Jeptha Creed within Kentucky’s growing craft bourbon industry.
For Jeptha Creed, the anniversary bottle is more than another limited whiskey release. It serves as a snapshot of the distillery’s first decade — bringing the grain from nine different heirloom corn varieties, years of experimentation and Kentucky-grown ingredients together in one bourbon.
And for bourbon drinkers who have followed Jeptha Creed’s evolution since 2016, the Solera release offers an opportunity to taste much of that history in a single glass.
It will debut at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, September 10-13, before becoming available for purchase on-site at Jeptha Creed Distillery and through its online shop beginning September 17. The release will also be featured as part of the distillery’s 10th anniversary celebrations, culminating with the Jammin’ at Jeptha concert featuring Rodney Atkins on October 10.
Jeptha Creed Solera Aged Bourbon (MSRP: $79.99) will be available in 750ml bottles at the Distillery Visitor Center & Online Shop.
For more information, please visit: https://jepthacreed.com/.
