J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery sits on Reilly Road in Frankfort, Kentucky’s distillery corridor, founded by the Mattingly family who trace their bourbon-making lineage back to 1845. The operation started as a way to honor their ancestor John Mattingly, who originally distilled whiskey in the mid-1800s before Prohibition shut down the family business. Kenny and Kris Mattingly revived the family tradition in the 2010s, building a modern distillery that combines traditional bourbon-making methods with contemporary equipment. The facility houses copper pot stills and operates as both a production distillery and visitor destination, focusing on small-batch bourbon and rye whiskey. You’ll find this isn’t just another craft distillery story—the Mattinglys actually have generations of whiskey-making knowledge behind their operation. The family spent years researching their ancestor’s original recipes and methods before launching their modern version, working to recreate flavor profiles that disappeared during Prohibition.