Barrel House Distilling Co.: RockCastle Bourbon, History and Visitor Guide
Barrel House Distilling Co. is a craft producer in Lexington, Kentucky, based in the historic Pepper Distillery district. Founded by Jeff Wiseman and Pete Wright, it produces RockCastle Kentucky Straight Bourbon alongside moonshine, rum, vodka and special bourbon releases.
In this guide
At a glance • History • Production • Whisky range • Visiting • FAQs • Sources
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Barrel House Distilling Co. at a glance
Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
Country | United States |
Region | Kentucky |
Status | Operational Kentucky craft distillery in Lexington's historic Distillery District, producing RockCastle Bourbon and other spirits with tours and tastings. |
Historic/current location | 1200 Manchester Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40504, United States |
Whisky type | American whiskey / bourbon |
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History
Jeff Wiseman and Pete Wright began work on Barrel House in 2006 and released their first product in 2008.
The distillery operates in the barreling house of the old Pepper Distillery campus, placing a modern craft producer inside one of Lexington's historic distilling districts.
The current business combines production with tours, tastings and the Elkhorn Tavern.
Ownership and legacy
Operational Kentucky craft distillery in Lexington's historic Distillery District, producing RockCastle Bourbon and other spirits with tours and tastings.
Production
RockCastle Bourbon is handcrafted with local Kentucky corn and wheat, according to the producer.
The bourbon is bottled at barrel strength and uses limestone-rich spring water associated with Rockcastle County.
The distillery also produces special bourbon finishes alongside its wider spirit range.
Whisky range and releases
Bottle / range | Strength / period | Cask or style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
RockCastle Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Barrel strength | Kentucky corn and wheat | Toffee, caramel and vanilla |
Brandy Finish Bourbon | Special release | Finished bourbon | Limited/special release |
Toasted Bourbon | Special release | Toasted finish | Limited/special release |
Rare and limited releases
Barrel House periodically issues special bourbon releases such as Brandy Finish and Toasted expressions. Exact availability changes, so current producer listings should be checked.
Awards and recognition
Whisky Clan only attributes awards when an exact expression, competition and year can be matched. No unverified award claims are added to this guide.
Visiting Barrel House Distilling Co.
Tours and tastings are offered at 1200 Manchester Street in Lexington. The official site currently lists regular opening hours and tour bookings; confirm the current calendar before travelling.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Barrel House Distilling Co. operating today?
Operational Kentucky craft distillery in Lexington's historic Distillery District, producing RockCastle Bourbon and other spirits with tours and tastings.
Can you visit Barrel House Distilling Co.?
Tours and tastings are offered at 1200 Manchester Street in Lexington. The official site currently lists regular opening hours and tour bookings; confirm the current calendar before travelling.
Does Barrel House Distilling Co. have a current whisky range?
Verified releases are listed in the range table above; availability can change.
Why does Whisky Clan use a placeholder image here?
A verified site image will replace the placeholder only when the photograph's identity and reuse rights are established.
Sources and photo credits
View sources and image credit
Official Barrel House Distilling Co.
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About the author
Written by Filip Janczak for Whisky Clan. Guides are maintained as new source material, visitor information and bottle records become available.
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