Wenzel Distillery sits on Madison Avenue in Covington, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Founded by Mike Wenzel, a former construction company owner who traded hard hats for copper stills, this craft distillery opened its doors in 2019 after years of planning and permitting battles. The operation runs out of a converted industrial building that Wenzel renovated himself, using his construction background to create a functional production space with a welcoming tasting room. They focus primarily on bourbon and rye whiskey, with some experimental batches that showcase Wenzel’s willingness to push boundaries. Wenzel’s journey into distilling started as a hobby that got seriously out of hand. After selling his construction business, he spent two years learning the craft, visiting distilleries across Kentucky and Tennessee, and working with consultants to dial in his recipes. The city of Covington wasn’t initially thrilled about having a distillery in their downtown area, but Wenzel’s persistence and his plans for a tourist-friendly operation eventually won them over. His head distiller background includes time at several established Kentucky operations, bringing both traditional knowledge and fresh ideas to the relatively small 500-gallon copper pot still setup. Visitors get an intimate look at small-batch production in action. The space feels more like a working distillery that happens to welcome guests rather than a polished tourist attraction. You can watch mashing and distillation when they’re running, smell the sweet corn and grain aromas that fill the building, and taste spirits that are still finding their identity. Wenzel himself often leads tastings, sharing stories about the learning curve of starting a distillery and the challenges of competing with Kentucky’s bourbon giants while staying true to his own vision.