Spirits · Lexington, Kentucky
James E. Pepper
A storied Kentucky whiskey name, brought back to life in downtown Lexington.
- Founded by
- Elijah Pepper (original); Amir Peay (revival)
- Based in
- Lexington, Kentucky
Their story
The Pepper family's whiskey roots go back to Elijah Pepper, who family lore says began distilling during the American Revolution and who had a distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, by 1812. His grandson James E. Pepper took over the business at 15 and by 1880 had built one of the largest and most modern distilleries in the country.
The Lexington distillery later sat abandoned for about 50 years. In 2007 Amir Peay came across the brand, acquired the rights and set out to revive it. Construction on the old site began in 2016, and whiskey started flowing again in late 2017.
Today the distillery is a small operation in downtown Lexington, making a limited amount of bourbon and rye each year and taking its time with aging.
How it's made
The distillery makes about 2,000 barrels a year using locally grown corn and water from a historic well 200 feet underground. Spirit runs through a 27-foot column still and goes into Kentucky oak barrels whose staves were air-seasoned for 18 to 24 months.
This is a long game.
Why we carry them
We like bottles with a real history behind them, and Pepper's revival is one of the better ones in Kentucky. The rye is a strong pick for a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
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