Old Steelhouse Distillery Tour Review (formerly Old Samuels Distillery)
1010 Deatsville Rd
Heaven Hill and Maker's Mark and are still in use.) Around 1987 Dr. Shulthise started the Samuel's Springs Bottled Water Company tapping in to the same on-site water source the distillery had used since 1933. Also back into use was the distillery's original bottling line. Over 2 decades have passed since the Samuel Springs Bottled Water Company closed its doors and all the while, these aging and weathered remains have been holding on for dear life, biding their time, dreaming of a new purpose and a new life. Now, Georgia developer Rick Puig and Kentuckian Ryan Mollenkopf and company plan to tackle this monumentous task. Originally renamed the Old Samuels Distillery and subsequently the Old Steelhouse Distillery (the T.W. Samuels brand is owned by Heaven Hill), the distillery will be transformed into a bourbon tourist destination a little bit at a time. Plans include a gift shop, a museum, a restaurant and bar, tasting room, event space, and lodging. Once complete, Old Steelhouse Distillery will make a great base station for those exploring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
OldSteelhouse.com. Tours are available 7 days a week at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. The cost is $20 per person. Adam Inman is the Director of Visitor Experience. He is also principal tour guide and chief historian. Tours last around an hour. While the majority of the buildings will require massive renovation, a few are already willing and able to share their long forgotten history. The bottling line room looks as if it is ready for its next spin and the laboratory shows every sign that the next test is ready to be run. The most unique building is the engine room. Built post prohibition, the coal-fired boiler produced steam which in turn was used to produce electricity for the entire distillery. Each monstrous machine seems ready for action, aching for their return to power. Regardless of condition however, Adam covers each building, whether it's intact or not. For example, the distillery room itself was stripped long ago of its equipment. The only reminders are imprints left on the crumbling cement floor. Its metal walls continue to deteriorate from years of weather and neglect.
Weathered or not, a visit to the Old Steelhouse Distillery is definitely worth the trip. Rarely is there an opportunity to visit an historic site in such condition and then be able to follow its progress as it comes ever so slowly back to life. Adam is a terrific guide and does a great job of bringing back the old days to our mind's eye.
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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 By appointment only 11:00am-4pm |
Paved Drive / Lot | No. Dirt & Gravel |
Motorcycle Parking | No designated parking. Ample space but unpaved |
-Motorcycle unfriendly features | Unpaved lot and driveway |
Number of tours per day | 3 Restoration Tour 7 Days a Week 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm |
Length of Tour(s) | 1 hour |
Advanced topic tours? | No |
Advanced topic tour names | No |
Tours by owners /distillers available? | No |
Number of different types of tours | 1 |
On-Line Tour Reservations Available | Yes |
Advanced Reservations Recommended/Required | Yes |
| Cost for tour(s) in $ | $20 |
Tasting Included? | There is nothing to taste yet |
| Number of samples included in tasting | N/A |
| Tasting Only Option? | N/A |
| Tasting Only Option Cost | N/A |
High-end tasting option? | N/A |
High-end tasting option cost? | N/A |
Designated Driver Option | N/A |
Handicapped Accessible? | Not really in the present state. Unpaved rough surfaces, most buildings are unrestored |
| Souvenirs included with tour? | No |
Gift shop | In the future |
On-Site bottle sales? | N/A - No bottles to sell |
| On-site food: Restaurant/Cafe/Snacks | In the future |
| On-site Cocktail bar | In the future |
| On-site event space | In the future |
| Should I visit? (Yes, Perhaps, No) | Yes |
| Unique Features | Unique historic distillery under restoration |
Website | |
Date Visited | March 2021 |
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