Kentucky Distillery Offers Customized Single Barrel Whiskey

Kentucky Artisan Distillery expands its barrel program to include smaller 15 and 25-gallon options.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:10pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a polished, geometric copper whiskey still, a stack of oak barrel staves, and a single glass tumbler filled with amber-colored whiskey, all arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic seamless background.Kentucky Artisan Distillery's new single barrel program offers whiskey enthusiasts a personalized, artisanal experience at a more accessible price point.Crestwood Today

Kentucky Artisan Distillery (KAD) has unveiled a new program that allows visitors to select and customize their own single barrels of whiskey. In addition to the standard 53-gallon barrels, KAD will now offer 15 and 25-gallon barrels, making the single barrel experience more accessible to consumers. Guests can choose from various mashbills, proof levels, and even personalized label designs.

Why it matters

Single barrel programs are popular with whiskey enthusiasts, but the high cost of a full 53-gallon barrel has limited accessibility. KAD's new smaller barrel options make the personalized single barrel experience more affordable and attainable for a wider range of customers, from individuals celebrating special occasions to bars and restaurants looking to offer unique whiskey selections.

The details

Guests begin the KAD single barrel experience by tasting five different mashbills, guided by one of the distillery's experts. They then select the barrel size (15, 25, or 53 gallons), proof level, and can even customize the label with a personalized message. The smaller 15 and 25-gallon barrels produce 65-75 and 115-125 bottles respectively, at a lower cost per bottle compared to the standard 53-gallon barrel.

  • Kentucky Artisan Distillery unveiled the new single barrel program on April 8, 2026.
  • The distillery will offer two single barrel experiences per day, Wednesday through Sunday, with reservations required.

The players

Kentucky Artisan Distillery

A Kentucky-based distillery that focuses on contract distilling and producing bourbon and spirits in an artisanal fashion, from grain to bottle.

Mark Emberson

The General Manager of Kentucky Artisan Distillery, who announced the new single barrel program.

Jade Peterson

The Master Distiller at Kentucky Artisan Distillery, who oversees the production of the whiskeys.

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What they’re saying

“Single barrel programs are wildly popular, but interested consumers are often limited by the cost of purchasing a standard 53-gallon barrel. KAD was founded on the philosophy of 'bottling your dreams.' Very few whiskey fans can afford to purchase a standard barrel, and by offering access to smaller barrels, we've made a personalized single barrel purchase possible – at both a fraction of the cost and the time for bottles to be produced.”

— Mark Emberson, General Manager, Kentucky Artisan Distillery

“Our grains are harvested from fields just a mile away and under the care of our team undergo the process of milling, mashing, distilling, aging and bottling right here on site. For more than a decade we've crafted some of the finest American whiskeys available and now are thrilled to be able to share our version of a single barrel experience with visitors.”

— Jade Peterson, Master Distiller, Kentucky Artisan Distillery

What’s next

Beginning April 8, 2026, Kentucky Artisan Distillery will offer two single barrel experiences per day, Wednesday through Sunday, with reservations required. Tickets are $50 per person, which is applied to the purchase of a barrel.

The takeaway

Kentucky Artisan Distillery's new single barrel program democratizes the personalized whiskey experience, making it more accessible to a wider range of consumers. By offering smaller barrel sizes at lower price points, the distillery is enabling more people to create their own custom whiskey, from selecting the mashbill to customizing the label.