WhistlePig joins The Kentucky Distillers’ Association
Non-profit trade group The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) welcomes WhistlePig Whiskey as its newest member.
WhistlePig was founded in 2007 in Vermont by Raj Bhakta and Wilco Faessen, and has since established itself in Kentucky with the opening of a tasting room in Louisville and a production facility in Brandenburg.
The brand’s CEO, Alex Roberts, said: “When WhistlePig was founded on the edge of the whiskey world in Vermont, we turned to one of the best, Dave Pickerell, to help us craft a rye whiskey that would pioneer the category again.
“We’ve since launched Bourbon, expanded our presence in Kentucky, and today, are proud to announce that we’re joining our peers in the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. We’re excited to continue to push the boundaries of American whiskey-making with our new roots in the heart of Bourbon.”
Launched in 2025, the WhistlePig Vault in downtown Louisville is located in a repurposed security bank. It boasts a bar, blending room, retail store and a tasting room in the building’s former vault.
That same year, the brand’s ‘development depot’ in Brandenburg, Meade County, was granted a license to distil up to 50,000 gallons of spirit annually.
Both locations were added to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in January 2026.
Eric Gregory, KDA president, said: “WhistlePig’s expansion to Kentucky speaks volumes about the strength and global draw of the state’s signature industry. We’re flattered and honoured that WhistlePig chose the birthplace of Bourbon to expand its American whiskey portfolio.
“When an established whiskey brand chooses to invest here, it reinforces Kentucky’s position as the premier destination for distilling – driving jobs, investment, and long-term growth across the Commonwealth. We’re proud to welcome WhistlePig to our growing family of Kentucky’s finest distillers.”
Figures released by the KDA indicate that Kentucky’s distilling industry generates US$10.6 billion annually, provides in the region of 24,000 jobs, and brings almost 3 million visitors to the Bluegrass State each year.
The KDA was founded in 1880 and launched the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Experience in 1999. Its membership today includes famous names such as Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve.
Members are admitted on a tiered system based on the level of stock a brand or distillery has in reserve. WhistlePig has joined as a ‘craft’ level member, indicating that it is ageing up to 1,000 barrels of whiskey annually.
The brand recently sold a warehousing facility in Moriah, New York, to a Delaware-based investment group for an alleged US$17 million.
This followed the departure of WhistlePig’s CEO Charles Gibb after just eight months in the post. He was succeeded by the company’s former chief financial officer, Alex Roberts.
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