Bourbon Reviews, Distillery News and Information
Old Steelhouse Distillery Tour (Video)
The T.W. Samuels distillery originally started in 1844, then closed during prohibition, and then was rebuilt nearby in 1933. They distilled until 1952, and subsequently the distillery was used as the Samuels Springs Water Co, producing bottled water. The grounds are now being restored and will be turned into the new Old Steelhouse Distillery (formerly Old Samuels Distillery), which will house a restaurant, bar, guest cottages, and a small distillery, amongst other facilities.
Old Steelhouse Distillery (Formerly Old Samuels Distillery)
Deatsville, KY
Have you heard of the Old Steelhouse Distillery (formerly Old Samuels Distillery)? No? What about the T.W. Samuels Distillery? Still no? What about Maker’s Mark? Good…I figured you had heard of that one! Well, it turns out that prior to Bill Samuels Sr. starting Maker’s Mark, the previous Samuels’ family distillery was the T.W. Samuels Distillery.
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Brief Distillery History
The T.W. Samuels Distillery originally started in 1844, then closed during prohibition, and then was rebuilt nearby in 1933. They distilled until 1952, and subsequently the distillery was used as the Samuels Springs Water Co, producing bottled water. The grounds are now being restored and will be turned into the new Old Steelhouse Distillery (originally Old Samuels Distillery), which will house a restaurant, bar, guest cottages, and a small distillery, amongst other facilities. There are functioning rickhouses on the site which are owned by Maker’s Mark and Heaven Hill and are being used to age their whiskeys.
The restoration is just beginning, and this short video shows the grounds as they are now. (Thanks Adam for showing us around!) Be sure to check out our full write up of the Old Steelhouse Distillery at BourbonObsessed.com!
Old Steelhouse Distillery has released two bourbons under the Blueprint Bourbon label. The first release in early 2023 was distilled in Indiana, and you can learn all about it in our Blueprint Bourbon Review. In early 2025, Old Steelhouse Distillery released their second Blueprint Bourbon, this time being distilled in Kentucky. You can read all about their newest release here: Old Steelhouse Blueprint Series Batch 2 Bourbon Review. Have you tried any of the Blueprint Bourbons? What did you think? Cheers!🥃
Want to take a short visit to another distillery? Check out our one minute tour of Heaven Hill’s New Rickhouse!
Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!
About the Editor: Ed Escott is truly "Bourbon Obsessed". He is the founder of Bourbon Obsessed, LLC, and an Executive Bourbon Steward of the Stave and Thief Society. In addition, he has authored and edited over 600 bourbon and other whiskey reviews, over 50 in-depth distillery write-ups, and many other related articles. He is on the board of the Kentucky Bourbon Influencers and a member of the Lexington Bourbon Society and the Bourbon Capital Guild. Last, but not least, Ed has attended many bourbon-related educational sessions, visited countless distilleries, and is on a never-ending quest to try every bourbon.
Prior to focusing solely on Bourbon Obsessed, Ed practiced in academic medicine for three decades. He most recently was a Professor at the University of Kentucky and served as Chief of the Division of Neuroradiology and Vice Chair For Faculty Mentoring, Development & Wellness of the Department of Radiology. He has extensive editorial experience in academic medical publication, and brings that same academic mindset to Bourbon Obsessed, which is a unique approach for a spirit-focused media company.
Ed can be found on social media on Instagram at @bourbon_obsessed and on Facebook at @BourbonObsessed
About the author: Ed Escott is truly "Bourbon Obsessed". He is the founder of Bourbon Obsessed, LLC, and an Executive Bourbon Steward of the Stave and Thief Society. In addition, he has authored and edited over 600 bourbon and other whiskey reviews, over 50 in-depth distillery write-ups, and many other related articles. He is on the board of the Kentucky Bourbon Influencers and a member of the Lexington Bourbon Society and the Bourbon Capital Guild. Last, but not least, Ed has attended many bourbon-related educational sessions, visited countless distilleries, and is on a never-ending quest to try every bourbon.
Prior to focusing solely on Bourbon Obsessed, Ed practiced in academic medicine for three decades. He most recently was a Professor at the University of Kentucky and served as Chief of the Division of Neuroradiology and Vice Chair For Faculty Mentoring, Development & Wellness of the Department of Radiology. He has extensive editorial experience in academic medical publication, and brings that same academic mindset to Bourbon Obsessed, which is a unique approach for a spirit-focused media company.
Ed can be found on social media on Instagram at @bourbon_obsessed and on Facebook at @BourbonObsessed
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