Holladay Distillery

Holladay Distillery in Weston, Missouri, is shaking up the bourbon industry and proving firsthand that good bourbon doesn’t have to come from Kentucky. With a rich history dating back to 1856, Holladay is home to a pure limestone spring first discovered by Lewis and Clark on their 1804 expedition. Kentucky natives Ben and Major David Holladay recognized the full potential of limestone springs and knew the site was perfect for one thing: making bourbon.

Weston Missouri Bourbon Climate

As most Bourbon Sippers know, temperature swings throughout the year play a significant role in the maturation of bourbon. This is one of the main claims for why Kentucky has such a great climate for aging whiskey. Because Missouri doesn’t have as many distilleries, most people don’t realize that Weston, Missouri is (on average) three degrees hotter in the peak of Summer and six degrees cooler in the depths of Winter than Bardstown Kentucky, which is home to some of the best bourbon in the world.

Holladay Distillery Warehouse

Nestled on a scenic Missouri hillside, Holladay’s barrel-aging warehouses collectively hold up to 22,200 barrels and are situated on a high and dry location that allows for the most possible sunlight and complete circulation of air. In early 2019, Holladay barreled its 10,000th barrel of bourbon and will continue to expand this production even further, allowing Master Distiller Kyle Merklein to experiment with different mash bills and aging times.

Holladay Distillery Tours

Holladay Distillery

In 2015, Holladay reopened its doors to tourism, giving the public the opportunity to see, smell, taste, and touch Real Missouri Bourbon being made. Guests peer into the limestone spring, step inside the stillhouse that dates back to the mid-1800s, walk among aging barrels, and take an insider’s look at the world-class bottling facility. Over 160 years of history are packed into each hour-long Holladay Distillery tour.

Holladay Distillery

Recently, the company introduced a new tourism opportunity called “The Distiller Experience.” This special tour for two runs one Friday a month from 9 am to 2 pm, and, during that time, guests work side by side with Holladay’s Master Distiller, taste freshly pulled bourbon samples, and take home a used 53-gallon Real American charred white oak Holladay Bourbon barrel.

For more info and to book a tour, visit holladaydistillery.com