IN THIS EPISODE
Jeptha Creed Distillery is a testament to authentic craftsmanship and family legacy in the heart of Kentucky's bourbon country. This isn't just another stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®—it's a ground-to-glass operation where science meets tradition most spectacularly.
Joyce Nethery, master distiller and co-owner of Jeptha Creed, brings an extraordinary background to bourbon making. With a master's degree in chemical engineering and experience distilling methyl methacrylate for industrial applications, Joyce jokes that "bourbon is a lot more fun" than her previous distillation work. Her career path took her from process engineering to teaching high school chemistry at Shelby County High School, and eventually to becoming CFO for her husband's companies. This diverse background provided the perfect skill set for running a craft distillery—combining scientific precision with business acumen and even classroom management skills (which come in handy with bachelor parties touring the facility!).
What truly sets Jeptha Creed apart is its commitment to using heritage grains, specifically its signature Bloody Butcher corn. This striking ruby-red, non-GMO, open-pollinated corn has been documented in use since at least 1845. Each kernel is preserved as seed for the next planting season, creating a sustainable cycle that connects their bourbon to traditional agricultural practices. More importantly, this special corn variety contributes a distinct flavor profile to Jeptha's spirits, imparting earthy, nutty characteristics with notes of leather and dark cherry that simply can't be replicated with standard yellow corn.
The name "Jeptha Creed" itself carries deep historical significance. The distillery sits at the foothills of the Jeptha Knobs, named by explorers Daniel and Squire Boone in the late 1700s after Jephthah, the biblical warrior in Judges 11. The "Creed" portion represents the family's promise to honor local values, heritage, and culture as they grow their business. These connections to place and history underpin everything about this remarkable woman-owned, woman-run establishment.
Beyond bourbon, Jeptha Creed produces vodka and moonshine, all distilled from their signature Bloody Butcher corn. While these were their initial offerings when they opened to the public in 2016 (as their bourbon aged), the bourbon has now become the flagship product distributed beyond Kentucky's borders. Visitors to the distillery can experience a range of activities from free tastings to guided tours, cocktail classes, barrel tastings, and enjoyment of their outdoor space complete with games, a café serving scratch-made pizza, and their famous half-gallon Bloody Marys served on Sundays.
Looking to the future, Jeptha Creed continues to innovate while honoring traditional methods. They've been laying down bourbon made from various heritage corn varietals, including a pink Hopi corn and a special pink bourbon created by combining their red and white corn varieties, scheduled for release in October 2026 to support breast cancer awareness. They also produce a Red, White and Blue bourbon that supports veterans' organizations.
The distillery has become a cultural hub for Shelby County, hosting a summer concert series featuring notable acts like the Bacon Brothers, and an annual Harvest Festival that supports veterans through their partnership with CreatiVets. As Joyce proudly states, they see themselves as "an entryway into Shelby County," welcoming visitors from the nearby interstate with their distinctive red building and warm Kentucky hospitality.
For bourbon enthusiasts across the country, Creativets Creed products can now be found in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Ohio, and soon in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Their expansion reflects the growing appreciation for their authentic approach to distilling and distinctive flavor profiles, making them not just a hidden wonder but, as the podcast hosts note, "just a wonderful wonder" in Kentucky's rich bourbon landscape.
