Western Kentucky’s Casey Jones Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Hopkinsville’s Casey Jones Distillery, renowned for pioneering the use of the wagon bed style of square pot stills and its storied family legacy of Prohibition-era bootlegging – marks a decade of American Whiskey and Moonshine production with the release of a special, limited-edition Founder’s 10^th Anniversary Blend. An homage to the distillery’s namesake and Master Distiller Arlon “AJ” Jones’ grandfather – the formidable Kentucky moonshiner Alfred “Casey” Jones – the Founder’s 10^th Anniversary Edition is a unique blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Barrel Cut, a proprietary spirit distilled from corn and cane. Starting November 29^th, the Founder’s 10^th Anniversary Blend will be sold exclusively at the Hopkinsville distillery for $99.99 per 750ml bottle.

“Casey Jones Distillery came to life after a series of unplanned events, which began when my wife (Peg) and I acquired the last and only legal still my grandfather ever built. Naturally, when a man has a still sitting in his garage, he’s going to use it. When we started out, our goal was to build upon our family legacy by crafting Kentucky Bourbons and Whiskeys that proudly bear the Casey Jones name. Honoring my granddaddy’s history meant digging into the family archives, so we brought back those old-school recipes and honored the game-changing copper square pot still he designed. We obtained our distilling license on November 1, 2014, and never looked back. Ten years later, we are proud to be a growing American Distillery that celebrates tradition, craftsmanship, and family,” said Master Distiller Arlon “AJ” Jones.

Cask strength and bottled at 103.3 proof, the Founder’s 10^th Anniversary Blend was expertly distilled on AJ’s handmade square pot copper still, aged to perfection, and then blended to taste. Combining the best of the Barrel Cut and high corn bourbon mash bills, the result is a smooth and full-flavored expression perfect for everyday sipping. As a nod to AJ’s moonshining roots, the mash bill features cane alongside more traditional whiskey grains, including corn, rye, and malted barley. The resulting blend is an exercise in ingenuity, combining the bold character of 50% corn and 50% cane from Barrels #200 and #234 with the nuanced complexity of Barrel #160, crafted from 96% corn. 3% rye and 1% malted barley.

A blend of two five-year-old barrels, the nose on the whiskey opens with sweetened brown butter and brown sugar to reveal vanilla and teakwood as the liquid breathes. Upon first sip, there is a definitive heat, but as the palate acclimates a delightful bittersweet cherry flavor melds into caramel coffee bean with a pleasant mild earthiness and light smoke. The smooth and long-lasting finish completes the experience. Pour it into a glass and enjoy.

As an added tribute, the bottle is etched with an image of Casey himself, whose craftsmanship, superior moonshine, and innovation in still designs caught the attention of Al Capone and cemented Casey’s legendary status. Federally imprisoned twice and more times than that in Eddyville State Penitentiary for still building, Casey’s legend lives on today through his grandson Arlon, who has picked up the mantle and created a stellar portfolio of bourbons, ryes, specialty whiskies and moonshines with the same familial determination, grit, and experimental attitude to appeal to modern spirits drinkers.

To coincide with the release of the Founder’s 10^th Anniversary Blend, Casey Jones Distillery will host a celebratory community gathering on Friday, November 29^th and Saturday, November 30^th, where guests may bottle their own bourbon with the help of fifth generation grandson DaQuane, who has been in the operation four years learning the craft. Signature cocktails, live music and food truck fare will also be part of the festivities. On Saturday, the Casey Jones team will break apart Barrel #234, one of the barrels used to create the Founder’s 10^th Anniversary Blend. Each of the 24 staves will be stamped with the 10-Year logo and signed by husband-and-wife Co-Founders AJ and Peg. All guests may enter to win the Anniversary Barrel Head – a unique piece of Casey Jones Distillery history.