Born in 1833
Reborn in 2015
Our spirits of today take inspiration from the best of the Boone County Distilling Co ghosts of the past. The courage of Reverend John Tanner. William Snyder’s untamed creative spirit. The practical determination of Appleton, Jenkins, and Gaff. All were pioneers filled with grit and determination as exemplified by Freiberg and Workum.
Those early pioneers have long since departed, but their influence is unmistakable in our craftsmanship. That’s our brand promise, we are handcrafted and “Made by Ghosts.”
In these simple, honest ways, we honor those who came before us.
1789
A stockade called Tanner‘s Station is built – the first Euro-American settlement in Boone County.
John J. Flourney establishes a steam mill which will later become the Boone County Distillery
1816
1833
William Snyder and his brother, John, buy the steam mill in Petersburg, Ky and transform it into the Petersburg Distillery.
Lewis Loder, a clerk at the distillery, begins his diaries chronicling life in Boone County and at the distillery.
1857
1860
1,000,000
gallons of whiskey are produced at the distillery.
Colonel William Appleton (Snyder’s son-in-law) buys the distillery after Snyder’s assets are seized by the government.
Loder’s Diary
Confederate forces fire upon Fort Sumter “Mrs. Carey’s boy got scalded by falling in a slop tub” (the boy died the next day)
1861
1864
High excise taxes on liquor to support the war effort force Appleton to sell 50% interest to J.C. Jenkins and James Gaff
Jenkins sell share to Freiberg & Workum
1864
1865
Loder’s Diary
“President Abe Lincoln was shot last night at a theatre in Washington. And W.H. Seward had his throat cut, both died today.”
Freiberg & Workum take over full ownership of the distillery.
1874
1880
Petersburg Distiller becomes the largest distillery in the state of Kentucky
Loder’s Diary
“The still called the Collin blew up in the distillery and scalded two men. Both got scalded badly and burned the building considerably.”
Height of Production,
4,000,000
gallons of whiskey per year. One of the largest in the nation.
1897
1864
A bustling river city no longer, boats no longer stop at Petersburg
Distillery is shuttered, the building later becomes the Petersburg Jail. All reserves are sold by 1918
1910
2015
Bourbon is being bottled in Boone County Kentucky
2015
2015
The reborn Boone County Distillery produces it’s first barrel.
Boone County Distillery becomes a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
2016
2016
Introduction of Boone County White Hall Tavern Bourbon Cream
Introduction of Boone County Small Batch Bourbon
2019
2019
Introduction of Boone County Wheated Single Barrel Bourbon
Introduction of Boone County Pot Still Bourbon
2021
2021
