How far is the distillery from Louisville?

Neeley Family Distillery is about 45 minutes northeast of Louisville in Sparta, Kentucky. It's in Gallatin County, off the main Bourbon Trail routes, so plan for a bit of a drive through rural Kentucky.

What makes their bourbon different from larger distilleries?

The Neeleys grow some of their own corn right on the property and handle most of the production themselves as a family operation. You're tasting spirits made in small batches with direct family involvement from grain to bottle, rather than mass-produced bourbon.

CRAFT DISTILLERY

Alabama

Keel and Company Distilling Inc

Headland,

Alabama

— Bourbon, Rye, Vodka

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

📞 (334) 695-1415

🌐 https://www.keelandcodistilling.com/

📍 119W W Church St Warehouse 115, Headland, AL 36345, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Keel and Company Distilling sits in a converted warehouse on West Church Street in Headland, Alabama, a small town near the Georgia border that wasn’t exactly crying out for craft spirits when founders Kevin Keel and his partners started this operation in 2019. Kevin, who’d spent years in the beverage industry, saw an opportunity to bring small-batch distilling to southeast Alabama’s agricultural heartland. The 6,000-square-foot facility houses custom copper stills and aging rooms where they produce bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka using locally sourced grains when possible. The industrial warehouse setting gives the place a working distillery feel rather than polished tourist destination, which seems intentional given their focus on production over pageantry. You’ll find them cranking out spirits in relatively small batches, with most of their early releases still developing their character in barrels. The tasting room occupies one corner of the warehouse, letting you watch the actual distillation process while sampling what they’ve got ready to bottle.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

WHAT SETS THEM APART

Keel and Company landed in Headland partly because of Alabama’s relatively favorable distillery laws and the agricultural resources of the Wiregrass region, but mostly because real estate costs allowed them to build something substantial without breaking the bank. They’re working with local farmers to source corn and wheat when the quality meets their standards, creating a legitimate farm-to-bottle connection rather than just marketing talk. The warehouse setup means you’re seeing an actual working distillery, not a showroom with the real work hidden elsewhere. Kevin’s background in beverage distribution gave him insights into what works in the market, so they’re not chasing every trendy spirit category but focusing on bourbon and rye that can compete with established brands.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

You’ll walk into what feels like a working warehouse because that’s exactly what it is, with stills humming and the smell of fermenting mash in the air. Tours are fairly informal affairs where Kevin or one of his partners walks you through their process, explaining how they adapted the space for distilling and showing you the custom equipment they installed. The tasting happens right in the production area, so you’re sampling spirits while watching them make the next batch. It’s not fancy, but it’s authentic in a way that some polished distilleries aren’t. You’ll taste whatever they have ready, which might include white whiskey, young bourbon, and their vodka, with honest assessments of what’s still developing versus what’s ready to drink.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

If you’re looking for a polished tourist experience with gift shops and fancy tasting rooms, this isn’t it. But if you want to see how a small distillery actually operates and taste spirits that are genuinely made on-site, Keel and Company delivers something you won’t find at larger operations. It appeals most to people who appreciate the craft side of distilling and don’t mind that some of their whiskeys are still finding their way. You won’t get elaborate cocktails or food pairings, but you’ll get an honest look at small-batch distilling in rural Alabama. The founders are usually around and happy to talk shop, which makes it worth the trip if you’re genuinely interested in the process rather than just checking distilleries off a list.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead before making the drive since they don’t keep regular public hours and sometimes close for production needs or events. The warehouse can get warm in summer months, so dress accordingly. Ask about their aging process and how they’re adapting their recipes based on Alabama’s climate, which affects how their whiskeys develop differently than spirits aged in Kentucky or Tennessee. If you’re driving from Dothan or other larger cities, double-check GPS directions since the warehouse location isn’t always obvious from the street. They usually have bottles available for purchase, but selection depends on what they’ve got ready to release.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Keel and Company Distilling Inc — Visitor FAQ

Do you need to book tours in advance?

Yes, definitely call ahead since they don’t keep regular public hours and the facility isn’t always open for visitors. Tours are usually available by appointment when production schedules allow.

How long do tours typically last?

Tours run about 30-45 minutes including tasting time, depending on how many questions you have and what’s happening in production that day. It’s pretty informal and can run longer if you’re genuinely interested in the process.

What spirits can you buy on-site?

They typically have their vodka and whatever whiskeys are ready for release, but availability changes based on production schedules. Call ahead if you’re looking for something specific since inventory is limited.

GETTING THERE

Find Keel and Company Distilling Inc

📍119W W Church St Warehouse 115, Headland, AL 36345, USA

—

📞 (334) 695-1415

The 50 States of Whiskey

Find a Craft Distillery

Search from nearly 1,500 Distilleries
in all 50 States

Never Miss A Thing

Subscribe to our Newsletter

SMART BUYING GUIDES

The Right Gear Matters

Honest recommendations on everything around the bottle.

Best Clear Ice Makers for Bourbon (2026)

The Best Bourbon Decanters: A No-Nonsense Guide to What’s Actually Worth Buying

The Best Home Bar Carts and Bar Cabinets for Bourbon Lovers (2026 Guide)

Best Bourbon Smoker Kits (2026) – Worth the Smoke?

Best Whiskey Glasses for Bourbon: 5 Glasses Every Bourbon Drinker Should Own

NEAT OR NOT

Whiskey Reviews

RD1 Distillery

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating:

Tom’s Foolery Farm and Distillery

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating:

Leather & Oak Spirits

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating:

Barrel 21 Distillery

Kentucky

Neat or Not Rating:

KEEP EXPLORING Alabama

Distileries Near Keel and Company Distilling Inc

Bourbon, Other

Conecuh Ridge Distillery

Troy,

Alabama's Official State Spirit finally has a home. Built to honor legendary moonshiner Clyde May — a WWII veteran whose bootleg whiskey became the stuff of Southern legend — Conecuh Ridge Distillery brings production back to Alabama soil for the first time. Tours, tastings, and a cocktail bar are rolling.........
(more)