Leiper's Fork Distillery: Tennessee Whiskey History and Visitor Guide
Leiper's Fork Distillery is a small Tennessee producer near Franklin, with a range that now separates five-year bourbon, six-year Tennessee whiskey and seven-year rye. The shared Bottled-in-Bond strength does not make those three releases the same whiskey.
Its rural Southall Road distillery is also distinct from the producer's other hospitality locations. A tasting venue, announced future venue or retail outlet should not replace the production-site address in a distillery guide.
Leiper's Fork Distillery at a glance
Key fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Distillery address | 3381 Southall Road, Franklin, Tennessee |
Founder | Lee Kennedy |
Modern opening | 2016 |
First barrels | Spring 2016, according to the producer |
Whiskey styles | Bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye |
Current bonded strengths | 50% ABV across the three documented core releases |
Other spirit | Old Natchez Trace Tennessee White Whiskey is unaged |
Official website | leipersforkdistillery.com |
Research checked 26 October 2026. Visitor schedules, bottle editions and availability can change.
In this guide
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Leiper's Fork Distillery: history and development
Lee Kennedy's project opened in 2016, and the official history places the first barrels in the spring of that year. It is a modern revival of small-scale regional distilling, not a claim that the current business ran throughout Prohibition.
The producer's story stresses traditional methods and local ingredients. That history is useful context, but the maturity of today's releases comes from their own age statements rather than the age of the distillery.
As stocks matured, the range developed into distinctly aged bonded whiskeys. Older labels or reviews may describe different releases, so a current five-, six- or seven-year expression should not automatically overwrite an earlier entry.
People, ownership and identity
The company identifies founder Lee Kennedy with the distilling direction. Family ownership and a relatively small operation are important parts of its account of the business.
The distillery also presents a wider hospitality offer. Those venues can introduce the brand to visitors without all being production locations; the Southall Road address remains the reference point for this guide.
How the whiskey is made
The current bourbon page gives a grain bill of 70% corn, 15% wheat and 15% malted barley. The Tennessee whiskey replaces wheat with rye and uses sugar-maple charcoal treatment before maturation. That is a meaningful production distinction even at the same bottling strength.
The rye uses 55% rye, 30% corn and 15% malted barley. Its seven-year age and seasonal availability identify a different expression from either of the corn-led whiskeys.
Old Natchez Trace is presented as an unaged white whiskey. It is useful for understanding spirit before oak, but it is not recorded as a mature bourbon or as a zero-age substitute for the core range.
Whiskey range and bottle identities
The details below refer to the named expressions and checked sources, not a promise of current retailer stock. Producer descriptions are separate from personal Whisky Clan reviews.
Expression | Documented specification |
|---|---|
Leiper's Fork Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, 5 Year | 5 years, 50% ABV. Corn, wheat and malted barley. |
Leiper's Fork Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey, 6 Year | 6 years, 50% ABV. Corn, rye and malted barley with maple-charcoal treatment. |
Leiper's Fork Bottled-in-Bond Rye, 7 Year | 7 years, 50% ABV. 55% rye, 30% corn and 15% malted barley. |
Old Natchez Trace Tennessee White Whiskey | 45% ABV. An unaged spirit, separate from the mature bonded range. |
Leiper's Fork Bottled-in-Bond Rye, 7 Year
Seasonal release. Pictured label is illustrative; match current batch before combining records.
Release milestones and recognition
The core range illustrates the maturation of the distillery's own stocks since 2016. The most useful dates are the age statements on individual releases, not an assumed common year for everything carrying the brand.
The current website also distinguishes existing hospitality from a Nashville Yards venue described as coming soon. A planned venue is not listed here as a confirmed open distillery tour destination.
Visiting and current practical information
The Southall Road operation advertises guided visits and a tasting experience. Its current site lists Wednesday through Sunday opening, with Monday and Tuesday closed, but the booking calendar should govern any actual visit.
Check the selected venue carefully. The separate House of Spirits address and a future Nashville location are not interchangeable with the distillery. Confirm ticketing, age rules and accessibility directly before travelling.
Explore more Whisky Clan distillery guides
These regional and production comparisons keep the next stage of your research within Whisky Clan. They are not a claim that every venue is a short drive away.
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Have you visited, found a label variant or spotted an official update? Send the source or your experience through our contribution form. Suggestions are checked before publication; no tasting score is assumed from a submission.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the actual distillery?
At 3381 Southall Road near Franklin, Tennessee. Other brand venues are separate.
How do the bourbon and Tennessee whiskey differ?
The current bourbon uses wheat, while the Tennessee whiskey uses rye and maple-charcoal treatment. Their ages also differ.
How old is the current bonded rye?
The checked producer page identifies a seven-year rye at 50% ABV.
Is Old Natchez Trace a mature bourbon?
No. The producer describes it as unaged Tennessee white whiskey.
Sources and photograph credits
Official producer pages and other identified sources were checked on 26 October 2026. External links and image credits are kept here rather than interrupting the guide.
Leiper's Fork Distillery, official production photograph.
Leiper's Fork Distillery, official rye product photograph.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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