Ex-Four Roses master distiller plans own distillery

After just eight months of retirement former Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge has revealed plans to open his own distillery, called J.W. Rutledge Distillery.

Jim Rutledge retired as Four Roses Bourbon master distiller in 2015 after 20 years in the role

Rutledge announced his retirement in July last year after more than 20 years in the position and 49 years working in the Bourbon industry.

Working with Stephen Camisa and Jon Mowry, both co-managing partners of Bedford & Grove LLC, Rutledge plans to build a “modern, energy efficient and sustainable, mid-size” distillery, which will be located in Louisville, Kentucky.

The distillery will produce Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey and straight rye whiskey in the “old-fashioned way” using rye and wheat grains, with a straight rye whiskey also planned for the firm’s portfolio.

In addition, Rutledge did not rule out the addition of a pot still to enable the distillery to extend its production into other spirits categories.

In order to achieve this, Rutledge is set to open a 30-day crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo, commencing on 2 May.

In a statement on the website, Rutledge wrote: “Another goal is to remain free from corporate structuring, so we can, and will, listen to our friends and customer regarding Bourbon and rye whiskey mashbills, whiskey ages, bottle strengths, single barrel and small batch renderings.

“This will also mean there will not be a corporate structure in place to require addition of flavours to Bourbons, or finishing of Bourbon in used barrels, of another type of alcohol, to alter and change the flavour and character of our whiskeys.

“To achieve this goal we have begun an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to get our project off the ground and running, and with your help we hope to raise as much funding as possible via this avenue – to remain as independent as possible.

“By largely, or possibly only building our distillery via crowdfunding with the direct support of the people who love Kentucky straight Bourbon and rye whiskey we will achieve these goals – without outside influence.”