Cathead Distillery
About the Distillery
Cathead Distillery is located in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi, and opened in 2010 as the first legal distillery in the state. Founded by Austin Evans and Richard Patrick, Cathead offers small-batch vodkas, gins, liqueurs, and a bourbon line called Old Soul. The site is both a production facility and a local gathering spot with live music, tastings, and an on-site shop.
History
Mississippi repealed Prohibition in 1966 as the last state in the United States. Forty-four years later, in 2010, friends and blues enthusiasts Austin Evans and Richard Patrick founded Cathead Distillery in downtown Jackson. They aimed to create authentic, small-batch spirits rooted in the region's culture. Since opening, the distillery has grown into a well-known name in the local area, and in 2020 Cathead was named a James Beard Award semifinalist in the Outstanding Spirits Producer category. In addition to production, Cathead prioritizes support for local musicians and artists through donations and partnerships with regional nonprofit organizations.
Raw Materials and Production
Cathead primarily works in small batches and produces a range of spirit types: vodka (including flavored variants such as honeysuckle, Satsuma Mandarin, and raspberry), gin under the Bristow label, liqueurs such as Hoodoo Chicory, and a bourbon series called Old Soul. The website highlights small-batch production and several named products, but does not provide technical details on malting, fermentation, distillation equipment, or water source. For gin there are explicitly barrel-aged variants with names indicating aging time (e.g., 1 year and 4 years), documenting that the distillery works with cask aging in selected products.
Maturation and Barrel Types
The public materials mention barrel-aged variants of Bristow Gin with both 1-year and 4-year designations. These products attest to the use of casks to age spirits for longer periods. There is no specification of wood types, previous contents in the casks, or details about storage conditions for Old Soul Bourbon in the available texts.
Whiskies
Cathead's lineup ranges from neutral and flavored vodkas (Cathead Original, Honeysuckle, Satsuma Mandarin, Raspberry) to gin (Bristow and Bristow Barrel Aged variants) to Hoodoo liqueurs and Old Soul Bourbon. The lineup also includes canned cocktails (Cathead Sparkling / Sunsetters). Old Soul constitutes the distillery's bourbon line and is highlighted alongside the other spirit types.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Soul Bourbon Small Batch | Bourbon | One of the distillery's bourbon products, listed as Old Soul Bourbon Small Batch. | Active; Core lineup |
| Old Soul Bourbon TinType Series #1 | Bourbon | Part of the TinType series under Old Soul Bourbon. | |
| Old Soul Bourbon TinType Series #2 | Bourbon | Another release in the TinType series under Old Soul Bourbon. | |
| Old Soul Bourbon (general mention) | Bourbon | Old Soul Bourbon is mentioned as the distillery's bourbon line among their spirits. |
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery is open to visitors and offers both tours and tastings under the heading 'Tours & Tastings'. There is a Gift & Bottle Shop at the distillery, which is open Monday to Friday from 10–5. Address, phone number, and e-mail are provided so visitors can contact the distillery directly for details on tours, bookings, and events.
The stated opening hours are Gift & Bottle Shop: Monday - Friday 10am to 5pm.
Philosophy and Craft
Cathead places emphasis on respect for Mississippi's blues heritage and supports local music and arts. The distillery donates a portion of its proceeds to regional nonprofit organizations and collaborates with several cultural partners. There is a clear commitment to creating a place for community, live music, and local events.
Awards and Recognitions
- James Beard Awards semifinalist (2020)