Friday, April 29, 2016

JIM RUTLEDGE ANNOUNCES CROWD FUNDING CAMPAIGN TO BUILD NEW KENTUCKY DISTILLERY

Former Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge, has announced the launch of a crowd funding campaign to build a new distillery; J. W. Rutledge Distillery.

Jim Rutledge retired from Four Roses Distillery in September 2015, and just after nearly 8 months of retirement he has announced that he has partnered with two close friends and business associates, Stephen Camisa and Jon Mowry, to commence efforts to build a modern, highly efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable distillery near Louisville in Kentucky.

Jim Rutledge announces crowd funding campaign to build new Kentucky distillery

Rutledge said he plans to use two, or more, yeast strains in combination with several high rye bourbon mashbills to produce very high quality Kentucky straight bourbons. He has also announced plans to produce a straight rye whiskey within the first five years of the new distillery’s operation.

A 30-day crowd funding campaign using the Indigo platform linked via www.jwrutledgedistilleryllc.com will commence the 2nd of May, allowing bourbon and rye enthusiasts to be part of the team bringing the new J. W. Rutledge Distillery to fruition.

Commenting on the news, Jim Rutledge, said: “We will produce Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskeys using both rye and wheat as small flavoring grains, and a straight Rye whiskey will also be included in our portfolio of distilled spirits. A pot still may ultimately be added to expand our beverage alcohol production to other types of beverage alcohols.

He went on to say: “Another goal is to remain free of corporate structuring, so we can, and will, listen to our friends and consumers 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 flavors to Bourbons, or finishing of Bourbon in used barrels, of another type alcohol, to alter and change the flavor and character of our whiskeys.”

Jim Rutledge was inducted into the inaugural class of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2013 he became the 13th person inducted into the Whisky Magazine’s Global Whisky Hall of Fame.

Posted by Steve Rush