Preservation Distillery

About

Preservation Distillery is a small, family-owned Bardstown distillery and farm known for making whiskey the old-school way in tiny pot-distilled micro batches. Set on a picturesque farmstead along the Bourbon Trail, Preservation feels tucked away and personal, with scenic Bourbon Country views, historic land, a bottle shop, and a visitor experience that leans into patience, rarity, and flavor rather than volume. The distillery describes itself as Bardstown’s hidden gem and the first and only 100% pot-distilled producer in Nelson County, crafting bourbon and rye in 1-to-3-barrel batches with an emphasis on sustainability and long maturation. For travelers, it is a great stop if you want something intimate, slower-paced, and different from the large production campuses nearby.

History

Preservation Distillery was founded by Marci Palatella, who describes the project as the result of a long search for the intense, old-school whiskey character found in vintage bottles. Instead of building a large industrial operation, Preservation was created around a deliberate philosophy. To make whiskey slowly, in extremely small batches, and allow barrels to mature without rushing them to market. The distillery’s own story emphasizes 1-to-3-barrel micro batches, pot distillation in Bardstown, low barrel-entry proof, cask-strength releases, unfiltered whiskey, and a minimum aging philosophy that often looks toward 6 to 7 years or more before release.

Notoriety

Preservation Distillery is best known for being one of Bardstown’s most intimate and distinctive whiskey stops. In a region full of large-name distilleries, Preservation stands out by leaning into very small-scale pot distillation, slow maturation, sustainability, and a farm setting that feels quiet and personal. The brand’s portfolio also gives it a strong collector following, especially among visitors interested in rare, vintage-style, cask-strength, unfiltered, single-barrel, and small-batch whiskey.

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:

$28 - $175

Preservation Distillery pairs guided tours and tastings with a picturesque Bardstown farm setting, where micro-batch pot distillation and a hidden-gem atmosphere set the experience apart.