Casey Jones Distillery marks 12 years with 250-bottle anniversary blend
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2026) — Casey Jones Distillery will celebrate its 12th anniversary with a limited-edition release combining whiskey from some of its oldest barrels with the first spirits produced on its two newest stills.
The anniversary spirit will debut during the distillery’s Anniversary Bourbon Harvest on Nov. 27-28, Thanksgiving weekend. Just 250 bottles will be available, including 30 reserved for online sales.
The four-spirit blend honors four stills connected to the family’s distilling history, bringing together the equipment and craftsmanship behind the Hopkinsville operation’s evolution.
For founders Arlon “AJ” Casey Jones and his wife, Peg Hays, the release marks another chapter in a business that began as a garage hobby inspired by AJ’s grandfather.
“It was only supposed to be a hobby,” AJ said. “Peg and I never dreamed where it would take us. Twelve years later, some hobby!”
The couple opened Casey Jones Distillery on Nov. 1, 2014, drawing on the legacy of AJ’s grandfather, Casey Jones, who built copper square pot stills.
Among the distillery’s first production equipment was a 120-gallon copper square pot still AJ made using his grandfather’s design. That connection between generations remains central to the anniversary release.
The blend honors Casey’s Original Still, built by AJ’s grandfather in 1967; the “Grandson,” handmade by AJ using the family design; the “Workhorse,” a 1,000-gallon hybrid still; and the “Grandfather,” a copper square pot still carrying that traditional design into a new generation of production.
Alongside whiskey drawn from older barrels, the release includes the first spirits produced on the Workhorse and Grandfather stills. The combination is intended to capture several stages of the distillery’s development in one bottle.
The announcement did not specify the release’s proof, price, component ages or blend proportions.
Over its first 12 years, Casey Jones Distillery has expanded its buildings, equipment, production capabilities and visitor offerings while establishing connections throughout the region’s distilling community.
The business joined the Kentucky Distillers’ Association in 2014 and became part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour in 2016.
A year later, the Great American Eclipse brought thousands of visitors to the distillery. Its eclipse celebration and Total Eclipse Moonshine became a defining moment, drawing guests from across the country.
In 2018, Casey Jones joined MB Roland Distillery in Pembroke and Old Glory Distilling Co. in Clarksville, Tennessee, to launch the State Line Whiskey Trail, connecting three distilleries across two states.
During the pandemic in 2020, the distillery adapted by producing hand sanitizer and developing additional ways to reach customers.
Cody Turner joined as a partner in 2022, contributing to subsequent expansion and modernization. The years since have brought increased bourbon production, new stills, additional facilities and visitor experiences, including a Bottle-Your-Own program.
For the founders and Turner, the anniversary also recognizes the employees, neighbors, visitors and fellow distillers who helped the business grow.
“When we look back, it’s not just the whiskey we remember,” AJ said. “It’s the people we’ve met, the friendships we’ve made, and everyone who has helped us along the way. Our employees, our community, our fellow distilleries, and the thousands of visitors who have supported us have all been part of this journey.”
Twelve years after opening, AJ still points to the modest beginnings behind it all.
“It all started in my garage,” he said. “What’s in your garage?”
About Casey Jones Distillery
Casey Jones Distillery was founded in 2014 by Arlon Casey Jones (AJ), grandson of Casey, and his wife Peg Hays. In 2022, the distillery welcomed a new partner, Cody Turner, to the team. Together, they operate the Hopkinsville, KY based company with a focus on tradition and authenticity in the distillation of small-batch craft spirits. Building on an infamous family history of still building, bootlegging, and Kentucky whiskey, Casey Jones Distillery produces some of the finest, award-winning bourbon and moonshine in the commonwealth.
