Columbus Bourbon: Get to Know Jeptha Creed Distillery

Welcome to the latest in my 'Get to Know' series. Today's turn is a unique distillery in Kentucky founded by mother-and-daughter Joyce and Autumn Nethery. What is amazing about this distillery is that it sits on 64 acres of farmland where they grow their Bloody Butcher Corn that is used to create their spirits making this a true ground-to-glass distillery.

Female Ownership and Female Master Distiller

Jeptha Creed was founded by Joyce and Autumn Nethery, making it one of the only female owned distilleries. Joyce (the mother), serves as Master Distiller, also making this one of the only distilleries with a female Master Distiller.

A little bit more about the founders. Joyce earned a Master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Louisville's Speed Scientific School, and for 15 years worked as a process engineer in industrial scale distillation. She then spent a decade teaching high school chemistry and physics.

Autumn followed in her mom's footsteps by studying distilling at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. She also earned a marketing degree from the University of Kentucky and has a goal of expanding the Jeptha Creed brand to all 50 states.

Bloody Butcher Corn & Local Mash Bills

Jeptha Creed grows or locally sources every ingredient used in their spirits, including growing our own corn. The Bloody Butcher corn is an heirloom variety of corn, dating back to the mid-19th century in the United States. It’s non-GMO and open-pollinated, meaning they save seeds year after year to replant. When growing, the corn got the name from the color of the corn which forms burnt oranges and reds in a splotchy pattern, said to resemble a butcher’s bloody apron.

In terms of taste, Bloody Butcher has a distinctive nutty sweetness that brings out notes of vanilla and toasted pecans in their bourbon and a variety of other notes in their other products. It does cost more, but it makes Jeptha Creed unique.

Visiting Experiences and Location

At the current time, Jeptha Creed doesn't offer distillery tours, however, they have multiple tasting options starting with their spirit tasting. This occurs every hour and allows guest to learn about the Jeptha Creed family and includes quarter ounce pours of Straight 4-Grain Bourbon, Bottled-In-Bond High-Rye Bourbon, 90% Bloody Butcher Corn Bourbon, and Original Moonshine.

There is also a barrel tasting option that runs for $45 a person and allows personalized tasting straight from the barrel and a mixology class for $35 a person where you can learn about the brand and learn to make two seasonal cocktails.

With all this and more, Jeptha Creed is a brand you should put high on your visit list next time you're headed to Kentucky.

Jeptha Creed is located at:

500 Gordon Lane

Shelbyville, KY 40065
(502) 487-5007