Neeley Family Distillery
Neeley Family Distillery Front
Visitor Center - Introductory Video - Neeley Family Distillery
Cooker - Neeley Family Distillery
Yeast (Dona) Jug - Neeley Family Distillery
Cypress Fermenters - Neeley Family Distillery
Cypress Fermenters - Neeley Family Distillery
Pot Stills for Triple Distillation - Neeley Family Distillery
Thumpers - Neeley Family Distillery
Bottling Line - Neeley Family Distillery
Bar - Neeley Family Distillery
Gift Shop / Bottle Shop - Neeley Family Distillery
Neeley Family History Exhibits - Neeley Family Distillery
Old Neeley Family Still - Neeley Family Distillery
Barrel - Neeley Family Distillery
Neeley Family Distillery Front
Visitor Center - Introductory Video - Neeley Family Distillery
Cooker - Neeley Family Distillery
Yeast (Dona) Jug - Neeley Family Distillery
Cypress Fermenters - Neeley Family Distillery
Cypress Fermenters - Neeley Family Distillery
Pot Stills for Triple Distillation - Neeley Family Distillery
Thumpers - Neeley Family Distillery
Bottling Line - Neeley Family Distillery
Bar - Neeley Family Distillery
Gift Shop / Bottle Shop - Neeley Family Distillery
Neeley Family History Exhibits - Neeley Family Distillery
Old Neeley Family Still - Neeley Family Distillery
Barrel - Neeley Family Distillery
4360 KY-1130
Sparta, Kentucky 41086
859.394.3258
Watch the 
video tour
One mile north of I-71 at exit 55 and just a stone’s throw from the Kentucky Speedway sets the home of the Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Kentucky. Family says it all for this distillery. While others may have a family tradition of making moonshine or whiskey, the Neeley’s tradition is 11 generations strong. From James John Neeley, who emigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia in 1740 with his own copper pot still, to the current 27 year old Royce Neeley, co-owner and lead distiller at NFD, their lineage is wildly colorful and provides a fascinating glimpse into our country’s earliest moonshining history.
Established in 2015, NFD opened to the public in July of 2017. Tours are offered daily on the hour with the last tour offered 1 hour before closing. The distillery is currently (as of November 2019) open Mon-Thur, 11am-6pm, Fri-Sat, 11am-7pm, and Sunday, 1pm-6pm. The building, reminiscent of an old-school style cabin, is part museum, part bar, and part distillery. For tours, just step over to the bar and pay the $10 charge. Tours last approximately 45 minutes to an hour and finish with a tasting of their spirits. The experience begins with a short video narrated by Royce detailing a rapid-fire, fact filled history of their family’s moonshining heritage. A few other eye-popping stories are also revealed which would make this family’s story a great made for tv movie.
After the video, our guide Josey (Royce’s cousin) began our tour in the “back of the house” which is the distillery area proper. NFD produces moonshine, bourbon whiskey and rye whiskey. Josey pointed out that the family proudly uses the same moonshine recipe that was well-known and highly regarded in their former home of Owsley County which is located in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. With their 700 gallon mash tun, 4 cypress fermenters, and 3 pot stills , NFD produces about two 53 gallon barrels of moonshine or whiskey daily. Not only is the whiskey triple pot distilled, but so is their moonshine. Quality is of the highest priority at NFD. All ingredients are locally sourced. Local limestone water is used. Also, surprising for a distillery of its size, NFD maintains and propagates its very own yeast strain which is used in each batch they distill.
As is typical of a craft distillery, the size is underwhelming. Yet NFD manages to pack a lot into their back room distillery. As Josey continued to explain the distillation process, she also pointed out a few especially interesting items. First, their use of a thumper instead of a condenser (take the tour for this explanation). Second was an exhibit with historical explanation of four antique Dona (yeast) jugs, 2 made of copper and 2 made of glass. The Dona jug held a distillery’s most important ingredient, their unique yeast strain for fermentation. Lastly, she pointed out the little remaining counter space which is home to their 10 gallon experimental still. The remaining non-distilling space is reserved for bottling which of course is all done by hand. On this visit, Royce’s father, Roy, happened to be bottling their peach cobbler moonshine. Between distilling and bottling, at least for the whiskies, is aging. Barrels are filled and stored on site.
The tour wrapped up back at the bar for the tasting of their spirits. All moonshines, the white dog, and the bourbon whiskey are available to taste. Josey poured our chosen spirits, and Royce’s mother, Michele, shared with us more of their family stories. One included a young collegiate Royce operating a still on campus. This did not last very long once mom and dad had an inkling of what might be taking place. All of NFD’s spirits, along with souvenir and logo items, are available for purchase in the gift shop area. There even is the opportunity to fill your own bottle directly from the barrel.
With the tour and tasting completed, we were now free to view all the amazing artifacts and family heirlooms. Neatly displayed were several former Neeley moonshining stills. Other tools of the trade on display include moonshine jugs for transport and sale, and of course weapons that were carried to keep the product and person safe. The walls are filled with family pictures of the Neeley clan and numerous old newspaper clippings verifying their colorful lineage. The oversized display detailing the Neeley family tree from 1740 to the present gives a fantastic overview of their storied past. Whether you’re following the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour or perhaps northern Kentucky’s The B Line, or maybe you’re just at the Kentucky Speedway, don’t miss The Neeley Family Distillery. They are now legal and fully licensed some 250+ years later and they look forward to sharing their story and their spirits.
Watch the video tour
video tourNote: Since our initial visit, some changes to the distillery are now in progress. An addition is being built to house the visitor center and gift shop, allowing the current space to become completely occupied by the bar and a larger seating area.
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Please note that due to COVID Distillery Hours and Tour/Tasting Availability may vary. Please contact the distillery or check their web page or social media for details before you go.
| Days of operation |
7 days a week Mon-Thur 11am-6pm Fri-Sat 11am-7pm Sunday 1pm-6pm |
| Paved Drive / Lot | The lot in front of the distillery is paved, the side lot is gravel |
Motorcycle Parking | No |
| Motorcycle unfriendly features | The side lot is large gravel and sits at a slight incline |
Number of tours per day | 7 tours Mon-Thur 8 tours Fri-Sat 4 tours on Sunday |
Length of Tour(s) | 45 minutes |
Advanced topic tours? | No |
Advanced topic tour names | N/A |
Tours by owners /distillers available? | Family run - Owners and distillers are usually around for questions |
Number of different types of tours | 1 |
On-Line Tour Reservations Available | No |
Advanced Reservations Recommended/Required | Not at this time |
Cost for tour(s) in $ | $10 |
Tasting Included? | Yes |
Number of samples included in tasting | 8 - 0.25oz samples |
Tasting Only Option? | Yes |
Tasting Only Option Cost | $1 per sample (moonshine), $2 per sample (bourbon) or $10 for complete tasting |
High-end tasting option? | No |
High-end tasting option cost? | N/A |
Designated Driver Option | No |
Handicapped Accessible? | Yes |
| Souvenirs included with tour? | No |
Gift shop | Yes |
On-Site bottle sales? | Yes |
On-site food: Restaurant/Cafe/Snacks | No |
On-site Cocktail bar | Yes |
On-site event space | No |
| Should I visit? (Yes, Perhaps, No) | Definitely Yes |
Unique Features | Great family history with terrific family heirlooms and archives |
Website | |
| Date Visited | July 2019 |
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