Champagne Tastes®

  • About
  • Travel
    • Food Travel
    • Outdoor Adventure
  • Recipe Index
    • Garden To Table
    • Seafood
    • Camping Recipes
    • Ferment
    • Backyard Foraging + Wild Game
    • Cooking Basics
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Garden To Table
  • Seafood
  • Ferment
  • Foraging + Wild Game
  • Cooking Basics
  • Camping Recipes
  • Outdoor Adventure
  • Food Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Travel » Food Travel » Kentucky

    Whiskey Thief (Frankfort, KY)

    Published: Apr 4, 2023 · Modified: Nov 15, 2024 · Leave a Comment

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Whiskey Thief in Frankfort, Kentucky, is an extra-small distillery that lets you "thieve" your own bourbon from the barrel to the bottle.

    Whiskey Thief Distilling Company gift shop.

    Whiskey Thief is an extra small craft distillery located on Three Brothers Farm in Frankfort, Kentucky.

    Black cows in field.
    Three Brothers Farm

    As of April 2023, they don’t distribute their bourbon or rye. That means it can only be purchased at the distillery. We love the exclusive feel of a tiny distillery!

    We've spent a lot of time at the big facilities (see my post on touring the original nine distillers of the Bourbon Trail, as well as the newer Lux Row and Bardstown Bourbon Company).

    And we've gone for a slightly more personalized visit with the Maker's Mark Ambassador Program.

    But when friends visited recently, we decided to try a few distilleries that we weren't as familiar with. Besides Whiskey Thief, on that day we also visited James E. Pepper in Lexington.

    Here's what a visit to Whiskey Thief is like!

    Large black barn with red doors at Whiskey Thief Distilling Company.

    Booking a Tour

    Tours (with tastings) were $35 per person when we visited. The fee included a small tasting glass.

    You can book online. The tour takes 30 to 45 minutes, and concludes with up to five samples.

    Is there a minor in your group, or someone else who won't be doing a tasting? They can take the tour for free.

    Tasting + Bottling Bourbon at Whiskey Thief

    As mentioned above, this is an extra small operation, with just a few distilling tanks. We had a quick tour of the distillery barn.

    Fermenting vat.
    Fermenting Vat

    Interested in learning more about the process? We recommend the book Bourbon Curious by Fred Minnick.

    Copper still.
    Whiskey barrels with various brand insignias stamped on them.

    The tastings were all barrel-strength bourbon pulled straight from the barrel with a whiskey thief (a tube used for pulling liquid out of the barrel).

    People using whiskey thief to fill bottles from the barrel.

    These barrel-strength bourbons are also unfiltered, meaning you might have tiny pieces of charred oak in your drink. (I thought that was kind of neat.)

    Whiskey thief device being used to pour whiskey into small glass.
    Bourbon Sampling

    The tastings are high-proof, so feel free to bring a snack and take your time! There were seats both inside and out. On Fridays and Saturdays, you might even find a food truck on site.

    Whiskey barrels with mash bill listed on chalkboard.

    If you opt to purchase a bottle, you can use a whiskey thief to bottle your own bourbon (or rye). This was one of the more fun things we’ve done on a distillery tour!

    Woman using whiskey thief device to fill glass bottle from barrel.
    Thieving Bourbon Into a Bottle

    After the main tour, you’ve got the option to visit the gift shop and sample a few more items, such as bourbon and moonshine that aren’t made on-site. You can also order a cocktail if you like.

    Cocktail menu attached to small metal-sided bar.
    Cocktail Menu

    This was a fun stop and definitely one of the more unique spots we’ve visited!

    Whiskey Thief barn from a distance.
    Distillery Barn on Three Brothers Farm

    More Kentucky Food + Drink Destinations

    • Roadside sign for Red River Rockhouse burgers, burritos and beer with restaurant in background.
      Red River Rockhouse (Campton, KY)
    • Restaurant entrance and sign for Mr Brews Taphouse.
      Mr Brews Taphouse (Lexington, KY)
    • Entrance to Corto Lima, a grey painted building with black awning.
      Corto Lima (Lexington, KY)
    • Indoor dining area with Mirror Twin Brewing Co. stenciled on the wall in decorative script.
      Mirror Twin Brewing (Lexington, KY)

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    bio

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

    Learn More →

    Currently Trending

    • langostino lobster rolls on a serving tray.
      Langostino Lobster Rolls
    • pan-seared rockfish on a plate
      Pan-Seared Rockfish
    • pan-seared red snapper on plates
      Pan-Seared Red Snapper
    • crab butter sauce on a platter with crab legs
      Crab Butter Sauce

    Footer

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For California Residents
    • Supplemental Privacy Notice For Nevada Residents

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Recipe and Photo Reuse Terms + FAQ

    Copyright ©2015-2025 Champagne Tastes
    All Rights Reserved.