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The 5 Secrets Behind Preservation Distillery + Farm's Award-Winning, 19th-Century Style Bourbon

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Preservation Distillery + Farm has rapidly cemented its status as one of Kentucky's most essential and innovative craft producers, proving that the future of bourbon lies in honoring its past. As of December 2025, the distillery continues to make headlines, most notably with the announcement of its "Oldest Releases Yet," solidifying its reputation for rare and highly aged whiskey. This boutique Bardstown operation is not just making bourbon; it is reviving a 19th-century distillation style, combining historical reverence with a commitment to modern sustainability and small-batch excellence. Founded on a farm in the heart of the "Bourbon Capital of the World," Preservation Distillery is a hidden treasure focusing on the most minute details of production, from the local grains in their mash bill to the limestone water source on their property. Their commitment to a unique pot-distillation method in the smallest 1-to-3 barrel batches ensures a rich, full-bodied character that sets their spirits apart from the column-still giants of the industry.

The Founder's Profile: Marci Palatella, Pioneer of the Bourbon Renaissance

The vision behind Preservation Distillery + Farm belongs to Marci Palatella, a proprietor and founder who is widely regarded as a pioneer in the modern renaissance of bourbon. Her journey into the spirits world is one of international business savvy and a deep appreciation for Kentucky's heritage.
  • Born: Los Angeles, California.
  • Education: Attended Sonoma State University in California's wine country.
  • Early Career: In the 1980s, Palatella operated a successful business selling bulk wine to Asia, where she first became aware of the burgeoning international demand and "thirst" for high-quality Kentucky bourbon.
  • Founding Date: She founded Preservation Distillery + Farm in Bardstown, Kentucky, in 2015.
  • Current Role: Founder, Proprietor, and a driving force behind the distillery's unique, historical approach to whiskey making.
  • Geographic Base: She currently commutes between her home in California and the distillery operation in Bardstown.
  • Legacy: Palatella is dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of pioneering distillers like Wattie Boone, who began distilling in the region in 1776, a nod to which is seen in the "Wattie Boone & Sons" bourbon line.
Palatella's background in the bulk wine trade gave her an unparalleled understanding of the global market and the value of sourcing and aging exceptional spirits, skills that inform her selection process for Preservation's highly sought-after sourced whiskeys, such as the Pure Antique line.

How Preservation Distillery Revived 19th-Century Bourbon

Preservation Distillery is celebrated for its commitment to traditional methods, specifically its use of pot stills. This is a significant departure from the continuous column stills used by most large Kentucky distilleries today. The pot-distillation method, which was common in the 19th century, is central to their philosophy and the resulting flavor profile of their spirits.

1. The Pot Still Difference

The use of a pot still is crucial for creating a "robust and complex" spirit. Unlike a column still, which strips away many of the congeners (flavor compounds) for a lighter spirit, the pot still requires multiple distillation runs and retains more of the rich, full-bodied character from the fermented mash. This method is slower, less efficient, and produces smaller yields, but the result is a deeply flavorful, oily, and complex whiskey that harkens back to the pre-Prohibition era.

2. The Smallest Batches for Maximum Control

Preservation Distillery produces its spirits in the smallest possible batches—just 1 to 3 barrels at a time. This hyper-small batch production allows for meticulous control over every aspect of the distillation process, ensuring that the quality remains consistently high and the historical methods are honored. This dedication to craft over volume is a hallmark of their operation.

3. Unique Mash Bills and Farm-to-Bottle Entities

The distillery's commitment to the "farm" in its name is evident in its ingredient sourcing and fermentation process. They are known for utilizing local artisan grains, including their proprietary mash bills for the Preservation Estate line. For example, their Wheated Bourbon uses local artisan corn, Harvest Wheat, and dark toast malted barley. The influence of the farm environment is purposefully integrated into the whiskey's profile:
  • Limestone Water: The distillery insists on using the natural limestone water source found right on their farm property, a classic Kentucky bourbon entity essential for filtering out impurities and adding crucial minerals.
  • Open Fermentation: In a nod to tradition and the terroir of the farm, the stainless steel fermenter lids are left open for the first 12 to 24 hours. This allows the fresh air and natural yeast strains from the farm environment to interact with the mash, influencing the final flavor profile.
  • Sustainability: Preservation is noted as Kentucky's first sustainability-focused distillery, even raising Bluegrass Longhorn cattle on the farm, emphasizing a holistic, land-based approach to production.

The Award-Winning Releases and Latest News

Preservation Distillery + Farm is known for two distinct categories of whiskey: their own pot-distilled spirits (like the Preservation Estate line) and highly-aged, sourced whiskeys that Palatella has acquired over years in the industry. Both have garnered significant critical acclaim, keeping the distillery in the latest headlines.

The 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Victory

The most significant recent news is the success of their sourced whiskey, the Pure Antique 20 Year Old Straight Bourbon. At the highly prestigious 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), the Pure Antique 20 YO took home top honors, being crowned the "World's Best Bourbon." This extremely rare, 115.4 proof spirit, which was released in December 2024, was sourced from an undisclosed Tennessee distillery, showcasing Marci Palatella's expertise in selecting and finishing world-class, aged stocks.

The Bardstown Collection and Future Releases

Preservation Distillery is a key entity in the local bourbon scene, participating in collaborative events like the 2024 'Bardstown Collection'. For this collection, they released a cask-strength blend of their own wheated pot-distilled bourbon, highlighting their unique production methods alongside other major distilleries in the Bourbon Capital Region. Other notable products that demonstrate their topical authority and commitment to diverse flavor profiles include:
  • Preservation Estate Pot Distilled Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: A core expression of their in-house, pot-distilled production.
  • Old Man Winter Four Grain Bourbon: A unique blend that appeals to collectors and enthusiasts seeking complex, multi-grain profiles.
  • Preservation Estate Pot Distilled Kentucky Rye Whiskey: A rye expression that also benefits from the rare pot-distillation method.
With the announcement of their "Oldest Releases Yet" slated for a public launch in December 2025, the distillery continues to build anticipation and excitement within the Kentucky Bourbon Trail community. Preservation Distillery + Farm is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the historical roots and future of American whiskey.
The 5 Secrets Behind Preservation Distillery + Farm's Award-Winning, 19th-Century Style Bourbon
preservation distillery + farm
preservation distillery + farm

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