6/9/2023 0 Comments Leipers fork![]() By deliberately not adding an acidic back-set to the mash, the natural sweetness enhances the mellow character of the final spirit. And, perhaps the most distinct of USPs is the old technique of sweet mashing. Rather unusually, the grain bill for each whiskey produced contains a percentage of locally malted and toasted barley. Just 25,000 gallons are made each year from home-grown local heritage varieties of corn, wheat, rye and barley. “We are a team of 15 and do almost everything by hand,” Kennedy emphasises. From conception to completion, the emphasis has always been to produce by hand and with a detailed, focused eye. In 2016, Kennedy filled his first barrel of what would become Leiper’s Fork after devoting 15 years of his life to perfecting the art of distillation. We understand that we have a direct lineage to the UK through our whiskey.” The importance of reaching out to the UK market first, is yet another way to link to heritage. As Kennedy puts it: “Historically, Tennessee has been seen as one of the four main whiskey regions of the world, along with Kentucky, Ireland and Scotland. And the UK whiskey drinker is key to this revival. Now, around 44 counties, including Williamson County where Leiper’s Fork resides, are beginning to boom. Prior to the Tennessee state-law change of 2009, only three US counties, where the big boy grain distillers still hold dominion, were permitted to make spirits. Proprietor & chief distiller Lee Kennedy is showcasing premium, pre-prohibition, artisanal production by distilling history with his “Bottled in Bond” range. One such producer is Leiper’s Fork, now entering the UK in its first market outside of its home state. One which is steeped in history: small, authentically hand-crafted grain-to-glass whiskey. In Tennessee there is a renaissance brewing amongst its distillers. Low volume high quality: Lee Kennedy, Leiper’s Fork proprietor & chief distiller “As the UK trade looks forward to welcoming the traditional styling of Leiper’s Fork, Lee Kennedy looks toward the future with one foot in the past,” writes Robert Mason.
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