![]() ![]() To make a standard 52-gallon barrel, you need about 30 staves cut from a white American oak. The Stave & Thief Society program was named for two integral tools in whiskey production. Both industry professionals and enthusiasts alike will walk away with all the tools needed to build creative flights, guide engaging sensory experiences, and speak with knowledge and confidence when sharing their appreciation for Kentucky’s signature spirit. ![]() With state-of-the-art classroom training, hands-on distilling, and advanced sensory training, along with plenty of the good stuff to taste throughout the day - for educational purposes, of course.īy the end of the day, attendees will have gained a strengthened understanding of the technical side of Bourbon production, its history and relationship to other whiskeys, and the variety of aromas and flavors found in different expressions. The Executive experience involves a day-long workshop at our hands-on learning center where attendees get to achieve a real working knowledge of Bourbon and its production. ![]() The Bourbon Certification can be completed online in a self-study format - just order the book, study at your own pace, then take the test when you’re ready! But for professionals and enthusiasts that visit Moonshine University, the Executive program provides a special treat. As part of one such initiative, Moonshine University was asked to gather its network of experts to create an authentic, standardized Bourbon experience - and we delivered.įounded in 2014, the Stave & Thief Society is the first Bourbon certification program to be recognized by the industry and the only to be named the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s “Official Bourbon Education Course.” Today, the number of Bourbon Stewards in our membership has surpassed 3,300 individuals and almost 150 Establishments (businesses and organizations) from around the globe. That’s why, over the years, the City of Louisville has been attentive to launching several initiatives dedicated to preserving and promoting Bourbon knowledge. Enter, The Stave & Thief Society.īourbon is the lifeblood of Kentucky’s history, culture, and economy. Located in the heart of Bourbon country, it’s natural that the world-class distillery school would also offer a special curriculum dedicated to America’s native spirit. I was fortunate enough to sample a sneak peak of some of the gin and it is very thoughtfully made with more emphasis on floral and citrus botanicals than on juniper.Moonshine University is the premiere education provider for all things distilling. Kelley is a resourceful and imaginative distiller and is undertaking the development of a new gin product at Whiskey Thief. in Paris, Kentucky and is the most recent winner of the Moonshiners Master Distiller competition on the Discovery channel. Kelley was previously a distiller for Hartfield & Co. There is also a new distiller that Walter and Hunter brought in to run it and that is Kelley Tennille. As a frequent buyer and taster of his whiskeys, I can honestly say I’ve never had anything he has made that I didn’t think was outstanding. If you’ve visited Whiskey Thief, Hunter has likely anonymously walked right past you in a mash-stained t-shirt as you sampled whiskeys he made that you are falling in love with. In my opinion, Hunter is one of the most talented and yet unassuming distillers in the industry. As such, Hunter has made whiskey from hundreds of different mashbills in his career, giving him a diversity of experience that most distillers will never know. Whiskey Thief, and Three Boys before it, is a major contract distillery. Hunter is largely self-taught, but possesses a unique breadth of distilling capabilities. The man behind virtually every bottle of whiskey produced under either distillery name is Hunter Coffey. A second tasting area has been added, a new rick house is on the way and a second still has been installed that will be primarily used for gin and other small-production runs. After Walter Zausch became the owner and president, those improvements have increased in both scope and timing. Throughout the Three Boys era, the distillery made slow but steady improvements to both the distillery itself and to the visitor experience. While it is surely a more popular experience these days, the staff at Whiskey Thief caters to and manages the crowd with relative ease and ensures everybody has a great experience on their visit. For good reason, the place is regularly packed with tour groups, bachelor parties, and run-of-the-mill bourbon fans. There wasn’t an ever-present big crowd of tourists and you could enjoy tasting direct-from-the-barrel samples at your uncrowded leisure. It wasn’t too many years ago – back in the “Three Boys days” – the distillery was the best-kept secret in Kentucky whiskey. ![]()
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