Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Stitzel–Weller Distillery
Short overview of the distillery
Stitzel–Weller Distillery is located in Shively, a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky, and opened its doors on Derby Day in 1935. The site has long been a reference point in the bourbon world, stopped distilling in 1992 and reopened to the public in 2014. Today it houses the Diageo brands Blade and Bow, I.W. Harper, and Orphan Barrel, and functions both as a visitor center and as a living reminder of the distillery’s significance to American whiskey.
History
Stitzel–Weller was established in the wake of Prohibition’s repeal and officially opened on Derby Day in 1935. The distillery quickly built a reputation based on an announced commitment to craftsmanship and an artisanal approach to bourbon. Production at the original site continued through the mid-20th century until distilling ceased in 1992. Later, the site came under Diageo as part of a larger transfer, and in 2014 the building was reopened to the public as a visitor site and exhibition space. After reopening, the facility served as the home for the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience as part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and in 2019 the Bulleit Distilling Co. Visitor Center opened in Shelbyville, where Blade & Bow is presented as a tribute to Stitzel–Weller’s traditions. Today the distillery stands as both a monument to bourbon’s history and as a base for several modern Diageo releases.
Maturation and barrel types
Stitzel–Weller’s range includes both long-aged releases and experimental process names. The product list notes the Solera principle in the '12-Year Solera Reserve' and the use of Cabernet-related casks in I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve. At the same time, several very old vintage releases are visible in the portfolio, including Blade and Bow editions at 22 and 30 years and Stitzel Reserve at 24 and 31 years, which demonstrates that long-term aging plays a central role in some of the house’s releases.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Age | Cask / Style | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blade and Bow Straight Bourbon | Straight Bourbon | Core range | ||
| Blade and Bow 12-Year Solera Reserve | 12 Year | Solera Reserve | ||
| Blade and Bow Aged 22 Years | 22 Year | |||
| Blade and Bow Aged 30 Years | 30 Year | |||
| I. W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve | Cabernet cask | |||
| I. W. Harper Aged 15 Years | 15 Year | |||
| Stitzel Reserve 24 Year Bourbon | 24 Year | Out of Stock | ||
| Stitzel Reserve 31 Year Bourbon | 31 Year | Out of Stock | ||
| Orphan Barrel Scarlet Shade | Limited Availability | |||
| Orphan Barrel Copper Tongue | Out of Stock | |||
| Orphan Barrel Muckety-Muck | Limited Availability | |||
| Orphan Barrel Castle's Curse | Limited Availability | |||
| Orphan Barrel Woven Honor | Limited Availability | |||
| Orphan Barrel Night Sage | Coming Soon |
Visiting the distillery
Stitzel–Weller is open to the public and functions as a visitor center on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The facility is located about five miles from downtown Louisville and invites guests to tours and experiences that tell the site’s history and showcase brands such as Blade & Bow, I.W. Harper, and Orphan Barrel. In addition to tours, historic artifacts and stories are presented, including the five brass keys that once hung on the distillery door.
Philosophy and craft
The distillery’s formal narrative emphasizes craftsmanship and an artisanal approach to bourbon, with a particular focus on preserving the past while inspiring future generations of American whiskey. The site is described as a tribute to the people who have shaped the bourbon tradition, and is positioned as an important historical and cultural reference in Kentucky.