Seven generations of Mattingly bourbon heritage distilled into a Frankfort craft experience — featuring custom blending where you create your own bottle, right down to the wax color.
J. Mattingly 1845 traces its bourbon lineage back to 1845, when John Graves Mattingly started what may have been the first registered distillery in Kentucky (DSP #2). Six generations later, Jeff and Melissa Mattingly keep the family legacy alive in this Frankfort craft operation. The star attraction is the custom blending experience — you become the master blender for the day, sampling from different barrels in their cellar and creating your own unique bourbon bottle, complete with custom wax-dipped seal in your choice of color. It's hands-on in a way that bigger distilleries simply can't offer. The distillery itself is modest — a 125-gallon pot still producing about a barrel a week — but the Mattingly family's double-staving technique (adding extra charred oak staves inside each barrel) creates distinctive flavor profiles. Located at 20 Reilly Road, the 23,000-square-foot space is less than a mile from Buffalo Trace, making it an easy addition to a Frankfort day. The experience is personal and often guided by family members or passionate staff. Some visitors find the pricing on the premium side for a small craft operation, but the custom blending experience is genuinely unique on the trail.
Sample up to 6 unique J. Mattingly expressions and learn about the family's 7-generation bourbon heritage and their distinctive double-staving technique.
The signature experience. Descend to the cellar, sample from different barrels, and blend your own custom bourbon bottle. Choose your wax color, create your label — it's the most personalized souvenir on the bourbon trail.
Open 7 days a week, which is unusual for craft distilleries. Reservations recommended for blending experiences. Walk-ins accepted for tastings when space allows. Less than a mile from Buffalo Trace — pair them for a Frankfort day.
Booking Method: Website or call
Hardest Slots: Sat afternoon
Cancellation: Flexible
Walk-Up Chance: Moderate
Their bourbon and blended expressions are available for purchase along with merchandise. The custom-blended bottle IS the gift shop experience here — it's the whole point. Prices reflect the premium, hands-on nature of the experience.
J. Mattingly 1845 offers something no other Frankfort distillery does — a hands-on custom blending experience rooted in genuine multi-generational bourbon heritage. The bourbon itself is solid craft quality, and the proximity to Buffalo Trace makes it an easy add-on. Best for visitors who want to go beyond tasting and actually create something to take home.
Address: 20 Reilly Rd, Frankfort, KY 40601
Hours: Mon–Sat 8:30 AM – 5 PM, Sun 12 PM – 5 PM
Parking: Free parking on-site.
Kids: Allowed. No tasting under 21.
The crown jewel of Frankfort. Right down the road.
Gorgeous restored historic distillery.
Small craft on historic Old Crow grounds.
State capitol, restaurants, and river walks.
Itinerary Fit — See how J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery fits into our 3-Day Bourbon Trail Itinerary and plan your day-by-day route with nearby stops.