Popular Kentucky Distillery: Jeptha Creed Distillery

OriginShelbyville, Kentucky, United States
ManufacturerJeptha Creed Distillery
EstablishedFounded in 2016
OwnershipThe Nethery Family

Introduction

Jeptha Creed Distillery is a family-owned operation founded in 2016 by the Nethery family in Shelby County, Kentucky. The distillery grows its own Bloody Butcher Corn and uses traditional methods and high-quality ingredients to produce a range of award-winning spirits. In addition to their bourbon and whiskey offerings, Jeptha Creed has also found success with their vodka and moonshine lines, which have expanded to include a variety of flavors. The distillery’s products have gained national recognition, and they have become a stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.

.

The Nethery family’s commitment to quality, authenticity, and sustainability is evident in their “ground to glass” approach and meticulous barrel selection process. As the distillery continues to grow, they have expanded distribution to several new states and are currently building a 15,000 barrel rick house to accommodate their expanding inventory.

Jeptha Creed Bottled-in-Bond Rye Heavy Bourbon

Jeptha Creed Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Jeptha Creed 4-Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Timeline

  • Jeptha Creed Distillery was founded in 2016 by the Nethery family – Bruce, Joyce, Autumn, and Hunter
  • The distillery is located on 64 acres of farmland in Shelby County, Kentucky, where they grow the Bloody Butcher Corn used in their products
  • The Nethery family had been working towards opening the distillery since 2013, testing corn varieties, recipes, and building the necessary infrastructure

Famous Product Releases

  • In 2016, Jeptha Creed opened with their original and honey vodka, as well as their original and lemonade moonshine
  • They have since expanded their vodka line to six flavors: Original, Honey, Apple, Blueberry, Coffee, and Hot Pepper
  • Their moonshine line has also grown to five flavors: Original, Louisville Lemonade, Cinnamon, Blackberry, and Apple Pie
  • In 2019, they released their first Straight Four-Grain Bourbon
  • They have also distilled a unique PawPaw Brandy that has received national attention

Important People

  • Joyce Nethery – Co-owner and chemical engineer, oversees the distilling process and barrel selection
  • Autumn Nethery – Co-owner and marketing expert, responsible for the brand and business development
  • Bruce Nethery – Co-owner and farmer, provides agricultural expertise and honey from his beehives
  • Hunter Nethery – Co-owner, supports the business with his skills and honey from his beehives

Significant Historical Events

  • In 2016, Jeptha Creed opened its doors and became a stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour
  • Their tour and tasting program was nationally recognized by the American Distilling Institute
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, they pivoted to producing hand sanitizer
  • Jeptha Creed spirits have expanded into three states (Indiana, Tennessee, and Missouri), with plans for two more in 2021
  • The distillery is currently building a 15,000 barrel palletized rick house to accommodate their growing spirits inventory

Interviews

  • “The distillery was my husband’s idea…he grew up as a dairy farmer. But then he was very entrepreneurial, and started these other businesses that he’s still got going on.” – Joyce Nethery
  • “It is so important to us that we literally put it into our name. We chose ‘Creed’ because we wanted to be honest and authentic with our customers about what is going into the spirits that we’re producing.” – Autumn Nethery
  • “Though Autumn and Joyce make up the mother-daughter duo that heads up Jeptha Creed, Bruce and Hunter continue to support the business with Bruce’s agricultural skills and honey from Hunter’s bees, which has made its way into Jeptha Creed’s honey vodka.” – Mash & Grain article

Products and Practices

  • Jeptha Creed is a “ground to glass” operation, growing or locally sourcing the ingredients used in their spirits
  • They use old-fashioned methods and only the finest ingredients to ensure high quality and flavor
  • Their barrel selection process is meticulous, with Joyce Nethery preferring a #3 char, toasted white oak barrel in the full 53-gallon size
  • The distillery does not use temperature control in their barrel storage, relying on Mother Nature’s natural rhythms

Sources


[1] https://jepthacreed.com/our-story/
[2] https://jepthacreed.com/news/jeptha-creed-est-2016/
[3] https://www.mashngrain.com/distilleries/jeptha-creed-distillery
[4] https://jepthacreed.com/news/the-creed-in-jeptha-creed-3/
[5] https://jepthacreed.com/news/a-history-of-bottled-in-bond-bourbon/