Neeley Family Distillery

About

Neeley Family Distillery is a small, family-owned craft distillery in Sparta, Kentucky, set in the rolling countryside of Gallatin County near I-71, Kentucky Speedway, and the Northern Kentucky Bourbon Trail region. The visit feels personal, rustic, and deeply tied to family heritage, with a story that stretches back through generations of Appalachian moonshining and now continues legally through bourbon, whiskey, moonshine, and absinthe. The distillery is known for doing things the old-fashioned way, using pot stills, cypress fermenters, sweet mash, local grains, Kentucky limestone water, and a family yeast strain propagated on-site. Visitors can stop in for tours, tastings, cocktails, and a unique bottle-your-own single barrel bourbon experience, making Neeley a memorable craft stop for travelers who want something more raw, intimate, and story-rich than a large commercial distillery campus.

History

Notoriety

Neeley Family Distillery is best known for being one of Kentucky’s most authentic family-heritage distilling stories. The brand leans into its moonshine roots without feeling gimmicky, connecting visitors to real family history, Appalachian craft, and a transition from illegal bootlegging to legal Kentucky spirits production. That gives the tour a different tone than many polished bourbon stops, because the story is not only about mash bills and barrels, it is about people, risk, tradition, and a family choosing to bring its long-hidden craft into the open.

experiences

Cocktail Classes

Duration:

N/A

Price:

N/A

At this time, the distillery does not offer any cocktail classes.

Tours & Tastings

Duration:

30 Mins - 1.5 Hrs

Price:

$20

Neeley Family Distillery pairs guided tours and tastings with a family-run Sparta setting where moonshining heritage, triple pot distillation, and a colorful Kentucky story define the experience.