Spirits of French Lick: Indiana Bourbon History and Visitor Guide
Spirits of French Lick is an Indiana distillery that puts grain choice at the centre of its bourbon range. The operation grew from the Doty family's winery business and works with recipes ranging from wheat and oats to toasted buckwheat.
It should not be mistaken for a brand that merely puts an Indiana name on sourced whiskey. Its producer descriptions explain local grain, fermentation and double-pot distillation, while the individual bourbon recipes remain distinct.
Spirits of French Lick at a glance
Key fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location | 8145 W Sinclair Street, West Baden Springs, Indiana |
Modern distillery | Founded in 2016 |
Business roots | Doty family and French Lick Winery |
Distillation | Double-pot distillation described by the producer |
Grain choices | Corn, rye, wheat, oats, malt and buckwheat across different recipes |
Documented range | William Dalton, Morning Glory, Mattie Gladden and Lee Sinclair |
Visits | Appointment-only guided tours |
Official website | spiritsoffrenchlick.com |
Research checked 26 October 2026. Visitor schedules, bottle editions and availability can change.
In this guide
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Spirits of French Lick: history and development
The official story dates Spirits of French Lick to 2016 and connects it with French Lick Winery. The modern distillery therefore builds on a family fermentation business rather than claiming to have operated continuously since the region's early whiskey days.
Its range draws on local history through named expressions, but the labels also signify different grain bills. William Dalton, Mattie Gladden, Morning Glory and Lee Sinclair are not four names for one bourbon.
Older articles and product copy identify distiller Alan Bishop with the development of the range. The current team page lists members of the Doty family. Historical recipe attribution is retained without assuming that every older job title is a current staffing statement.
People, ownership and identity
The current producer story describes the Doty family's role in ownership and operations, with founders John and Kimberly now described as retired. Winery and distillery experience contribute to the emphasis on fermentation and brandy-style distilling knowledge.
Grain experiments and house yeasts form part of the producer's explanation of flavour. These statements belong to the distillery and are not a substitute for independently tasting and scoring the finished whiskey.
How the whiskey is made
The bourbon pages describe double-pot distillation and relatively low entry strengths. The detailed recipes differ: William Dalton uses wheat, Mattie Gladden has a substantial rye component, Lee Sinclair includes oats, and Morning Glory uses kasha, or toasted buckwheat.
Cask treatment also matters. The documented William Dalton and Morning Glory descriptions specify number-two-charred oak and 105 US proof barrel entry. The bottling proof is a different number, and neither should be confused with still-output strength.
The website describes both cellar-style and dunnage maturation. Those terms explain storage conditions, not a guarantee that every current lot has an identical age. Where a bottle image and a recipe page differ in precision, the saved research notes identify the pictured label rather than generalising it.
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 |
|---|---|
William Dalton Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Bourbon | 50% ABV. Mash bill: 70% corn, 20% wheat and 10% caramel malt. The pictured producer label states four years. |
The Morning Glory Bottled-in-Bond Kasha Bourbon | 50% ABV. Corn, rye, toasted buckwheat, buckwheat and malt; a different recipe from the other bonded bourbons. |
Mattie Gladden Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon | 50% ABV. 55% corn, 35% rye and 10% Victory malt, with double-pot distillation. |
Lee Sinclair 4-Grain Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon | 50% ABV. 60% corn, 17% wheat, 13% oats and 10% caramel malt. |
William Dalton Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Bourbon
Producer summary: floral and herbal aromas with caramel.
Producer summary: honey, earthiness and gentle oak.
Four years read from the pictured producer bottle; verify the exact current label before treating all releases as identical.
Release milestones and recognition
The producer's 2022 awards release identifies recognition for named bourbons. Such results are historical evidence about those releases, not an editorial score awarded by Whisky Clan.
The most useful learning opportunity in this range is comparison: the same producer and bonded bottling strength can sit alongside very different grain recipes, yeasts and maturation descriptions.
Visiting and current practical information
The official visitor page offers tours by appointment and asks guests to contact the team at least 48 hours ahead. At this check it lists a $35 guided experience for adults aged 21 or over.
The West Baden Springs address is the practical destination. Confirm the booking, tasting content, accessibility and any changes before travelling; an appointment-only operation should not be described as an unrestricted walk-in tour venue.
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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Frequently asked questions
Where is Spirits of French Lick?
In West Baden Springs, Indiana, at the producer’s Sinclair Street site.
Is every Indiana whiskey sourced from the same large distillery?
No. Spirits of French Lick documents its own fermentation and double-pot distillation. Origin must be checked for each producer.
What is kasha in Morning Glory?
Toasted buckwheat, included in that bourbon’s distinctive grain recipe.
Are tours walk-in?
The official page describes appointment-only tours, with advance contact requested.
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.
Spirits of French Lick, official visitor-page production photograph.
Spirits of French Lick, official William Dalton 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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