Whiskey ready to flow at Leiper’s Fork Distillery
About 20 minutes northwest, Kennedy gets to witness his dream of opening up a distillery become a reality as well.
His 5,000 square foot distillery, as well as a 2,500 square foot log cabin, rests on 30 acres in Leiper’s Fork. The log cabin, built in 1825, will hold tours, tastings, live music, retail and office space.
Leiper’s Fork Distillery will offer a bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and a Tennessee rye whiskey.
“We will be solely a whiskey distillery here and we’ll be using all local grains, local water and we’ll make about 500 barrels a year or 25,000 gallons,” Kennedy said.
It was a long road for Kennedy, who first met with county officials about the distillery in 2012.
“We went through a three-year approval process for Williamson County because there wasn’t a law for distilleries in this part of the county to operate,” he said.
The distillery is housed in a beautiful building behind the log cabin. Inside, a 550-gallon, Scottish-style copper still is the centerpiece of the distillery.
Once it opens in June, Kennedy said guests can take tours of the distillery and learn the science behind the distillation process.
For Kennedy, the distillery will be the culmination of both hard work and patience.
“I’ve always had a fascination with it since I’ve been about 15 or 16,” he said. “I’ve always loved the history and heritage behind it. It’s definitely been a long road.”
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