Popular Kentucky Distillery: Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.

OriginLouisville, Kentucky, United States
ManufacturerKentucky Peerless Distilling Co.
EstablishedFounded in 2013
OwnershipCorky Taylor

Introduction

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. boasts a rich history dating back to the early 1880s when the Worsham Distilling Company was established in Henderson, Kentucky. Henry Kraver’s acquisition of the distillery in 1889 led to its renaming as the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company, marking the beginning of a legacy that endured through Prohibition and the Great Depression. Noteworthy figures like Henry Kraver, Corky Taylor, Carson Taylor, and Caleb Kilburn have played pivotal roles in shaping Peerless’ revival and success.

The distillery’s popular products include the Small Batch Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, all crafted with a meticulous sweet mash process and double distillation. Peerless’ commitment to quality is evident in their barrel proof bottling, sourcing of local grains, and adherence to traditional practices, ensuring each bottle embodies the heritage and excellence of the historic Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.

Kentucky Peerless Small Batch Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Kentucky Peerless Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Kentucky Peerless Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Timeline

  • The Worsham Distilling Company was founded in Henderson, Kentucky in the early 1880s.
  • In 1889, Henry Kraver purchased the distillery and renamed it the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company.
  • By 1913, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. was employing nearly 50 workers and producing 10,000 barrels per year.
  • In 1917, the distillery was producing 200 barrels per week, over 23,000 barrels per year, with 63,000 barrels in storage.
  • During Prohibition, Peerless product was one of the few available by prescription for medicinal use.
  • In 1932, Henry Kraver invested in and served as president of the First National Bank of Henderson.
  • In 1934, Kraver retrofitted a former Montgomery Ward department store into an 800-seat theater called The Kraver Theater.
  • In 2014, Corky and Carson Taylor, 4th and 5th generation descendants of Henry Kraver, began construction on the new Peerless distillery in downtown Louisville.
  • In March 2015, Peerless filled their first barrel of whiskey since 1917.
  • In June 2015, Peerless held their grand opening celebration.

Famous Product Releases

  • In 2016, Peerless released their first product in over 100 years – a two-year-old rye whiskey.
  • In June 2019, Peerless released their first bourbon in 102 years.

Important People in Peerless History

  • Henry Kraver – Purchased the Worsham Distilling Company in 1889 and renamed it Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company. Grew the business significantly in the early 20th century.
  • Corky Taylor – 4th generation descendant of Henry Kraver, revived the Peerless brand and opened the new distillery in Louisville in 2015.
  • Carson Taylor – 5th generation descendant of Henry Kraver, partnered with his father Corky to rebuild the Peerless distillery.
  • Caleb Kilburn – Master Distiller at Kentucky Peerless, hired in 2015 to oversee the distillation process and help revive the historic brand.

Significant Historical Events

  • Prohibition – Kentucky Peerless ceased production from 1917 to 1933, but their product was available by prescription for medicinal use.
  • The Great Depression – Henry Kraver invested in and served as president of the First National Bank of Henderson to help sustain the business.
  • Threat to Kraver’s Grandson – In 1933, local union workers left a threatening letter for Kraver, leading him to send his grandson (the future father of Corky Taylor) to military school.

Interviews

Corky Taylor, 4th generation descendant of Henry Kraver, on reviving the Peerless legacy:
“We have the patience to make your favorite bourbon. After five generations of bourbon makers, we are honored to share what makes the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company so unique.”

Caleb Kilburn, Master Distiller, on Peerless’ distillation process:
“When you’re talking about a startup like Peerless, I can take advantage of all the new technology. So we’re not going to be the most financially efficient, we’re not going to be the biggest, but none of those things matter in relation to quality, which is what we’re after.”

Products and Practices

  • Peerless uses a sweet mash process and double distills their whiskeys at a lower proof to achieve smoother, fuller flavors.
  • All Peerless products are bottled at barrel proof, ranging from 107-110 proof.
  • Peerless obtains their original Distilled Spirits Plant (DSP) number of DSP-KY-50, which was the number assigned to the original Kentucky Peerless Distillery in the 1800s.
  • Peerless sources their grains locally and uses Kentucky limestone water in their production process.

Sources


[1] https://www.spirithub.com/pages/kentucky-peerless-distilling-company
[2] https://kentuckypeerless.com/story/
[3] https://www.gobourbon.com/first-peerless-bourbon/
[4] https://kentuckypeerless.com/peerless-timeline/
[5] https://bourbonveach.com/2022/03/04/peerless-distillery/