When James Neeley set sail from northern Ireland in 1740 for what would soon become the United States, he brought with him copper pot stills – tools of the trade for what would eventually become a way of life for his descendants in Owsley County, Kentucky.
Eleven generations later, that same tradition is still going strong and is now shared with hundreds of visitors each month at a sprawling knotty-pine distillery located next to the Kentucky Speedway in Gallatin County, just over the Carroll County line.
Neeley Family Distillery, owned and operated by 26-year-old Royce Neeley, showcases 11 generations of family history – from blood feuds to the illegal distilling of moonshine whiskey.
Using his great-grandfather’s original recipe, Neeley produces the highest-proof legal moonshine currently sold in the United States at 120.2 proof.
The distillery also offers four flavored moonshines, custom flavored in-house with natural ingredients at around 70–80 proof. A small-barrel bourbon is also in the works and expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Despite his age, Neeley is already working with master distillers like Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey.
The distillery is set to join the Kentucky Bourbon Trail within the next 11 months, a program operated by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) to promote the state’s multibillion-dollar bourbon industry.
Its first distributor, Lexington-based Kentucky Eagle, picked up its first shipment of moonshine two weeks ago. Neeley hopes products will soon be on shelves in Kroger, Liquor Barn, and smaller liquor stores statewide. Visitors can also enjoy free tastings, tours, a gift shop, and a bar on site. Neeley said future plans include hosting small concerts and food trucks, while the space is already available for business meetings, reunions, weddings, and other events.
The Neeley Family Distillery is located at 4360 Hwy. 1130, just off Hwy. 1039 at Exit 55 of I-71 near Sparta. For more information, call (859) 394-3258 or visit their Facebook page.
With training under his belt, Neeley is the youngest distillery owner in the United States and the second-youngest lead distiller in Kentucky. Just last week, the business became the 35th member of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
Neeley's family moved into Owsley County in eastern Kentucky in 1850, and have been there ever since.
Neeley’s parents, Roy and Michelle, relocated to Owen County in 1988 to escape the impoverished and sometimes dangerous hills of Appalachia.
A 2009 graduate of Owen County High School, Neeley played both baseball and basketball for the Rebels. He later attended Transylvania University, where he played baseball for the Pioneers and graduated in 2013.
It was during his time at Transylvania that Neeley developed his passion for distilling. Upon graduation, he wrote the business plan for what would become Neeley Family Distillery.
Looking ahead, Neeley—currently pursuing a master’s degree in business—said his goal is to grow the distillery only as much as it “needs to grow,” with no intention of becoming a corporate conglomerate.
For now, his focus is on making whiskey “the old way and the right way.”
His father, who owns Neeley’s Construction, oversaw building the facility while Royce handled marketing, mash bills, and setting up equipment. Construction began in 2015, and the distillery officially opened on July 1. In its first week, 5,000 visitors toured the facility, including guests from as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
With no formal training under his belt, Neeley is the youngest distillery owner in the United States and the second youngest lead distiller in Kentucky.
Info via Landmark News Service
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