Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bloody Butcher Bourbon 750ML

Jeptha Creed Four Grain Bloody Butcher Bourbon 750ML is a 98-proof Kentucky straight bourbon built on a four-grain mashbill featuring heirloom Bloody Butcher corn, bottled at 49% ABV. This estate-distilled expression earned a Silver medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and stands apart for its use of entirely malted secondary grains — a production choice born from a happy accident that fundamentally shaped the distillery's identity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 49% (98 Proof)  |  Origin: Shelby County, Kentucky  |  Kentucky Straight Bourbon  |  Distillery: Jeptha Creed

Production & Heritage

Jeptha Creed Distillery sits on 64 acres of farmland in Shelby County, Kentucky, where the Nethery family grows the grain that goes into every bottle. The mashbill consists of 70% Bloody Butcher corn — a non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom variety with seeds saved and replanted each season — alongside 15% malted rye, 10% malted wheat, and 5% malted barley. The decision to malt all three secondary grains traces back to a 2014 shipping error that delivered malted grains instead of unmalted; the Netherys found the resulting spirit so compelling they adopted the approach permanently. This all-malted grain bill yields a richer enzymatic conversion during mashing, lending the bourbon a depth and complexity that distinguishes it from conventionally produced expressions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with sweet cream candy and dried apricots before shifting toward red berries, peach cobbler, and blackberry jam. Beneath the fruit, there are unusual herbal and floral layers — hydrangea, geranium, and fresh-cut grass alongside cedar and brown sugar.

Taste: The entry is rich and full-bodied, immediately registering vanilla and toasted pecans. At mid-palate, warm baking spices emerge — nutmeg and clove at the forefront — underscored by orange zest and a thread of cinnamon spice cake. The four-grain mashbill delivers noticeable complexity, with the malted wheat adding a soft, rounded sweetness between the spicier rye notes.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, settling on vanilla mint with lingering baking spices. A subtle nuttiness from the toasted pecans carries through, giving the final impression both structure and warmth.

How to Drink Bloody Butcher Bourbon

At 98 proof, this bourbon rewards a neat pour at room temperature; a few drops of water open up the floral and herbal aromatics without diminishing the spice. It also holds its character well over a single large ice cube for those who prefer a slightly cooler sip.

• Old Fashioned: The all-malted grain bill provides enough body and spice to stand up to bitters and sugar without losing its heirloom corn sweetness.
• Bourbon Smash: The herbal and floral nose notes amplify beautifully alongside fresh mint and lemon.
• Brown Sugar Manhattan: Substituting brown sugar simple syrup for standard simple plays directly into this bourbon's peach cobbler and baking spice character.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring farm-to-bottle and estate-distilled whiskey
• Gifting someone who values grain provenance and transparent production
• Tasting flights comparing heirloom corn bourbons against standard yellow dent corn expressions
• Home cocktail bartenders seeking a high-proof, complex base spirit

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bloody Butcher Bourbon taste like? It delivers a rich, layered profile of vanilla, toasted pecans, nutmeg, and clove with a distinctly fruity quality — dried apricots, red berries, and peach cobbler — that sets it apart from more oak-forward bourbons. The finish is long with vanilla mint and lingering baking spices.

How does Bloody Butcher Bourbon compare to Frey Ranch Bourbon? Both are estate-distilled bourbons where the distillery grows its own grain, but Jeptha Creed uses a four-grain mashbill with heirloom Bloody Butcher corn and all-malted secondary grains, while Frey Ranch uses a traditional four-grain bill with winter cereal rye, winter wheat, and two-row barley grown on their Nevada farm. Jeptha Creed tends to lean fruitier and more herbally complex, whereas Frey Ranch delivers a drier, more grain-forward character.

Is Bloody Butcher Bourbon good for sipping neat? Yes — at 98 proof it has enough intensity to reward undiluted sipping, while the all-malted grain bill provides a smoother, more rounded mouthfeel than many bourbons at similar proof points. A few drops of water further reveal the floral and herbal layers on the nose.

Where is Bloody Butcher Bourbon made? It is distilled, aged, and bottled at Jeptha Creed Distillery on a 64-acre farm in Shelby County, Kentucky. The heirloom Bloody Butcher corn and secondary grains are grown on the estate property.

What foods pair well with Bloody Butcher Bourbon? Smoked pork shoulder matches its warm spice and brown sugar notes. Pecan pie echoes the toasted nut character on the palate. Aged cheddar contrasts its fruit-forward sweetness with savory sharpness. Dark chocolate truffles complement the clove and vanilla finish. Grilled peaches with cinnamon mirror the peach cobbler and baking spice notes directly.

What sizes does Bloody Butcher Bourbon come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle at 98 proof.

Is Bloody Butcher Bourbon worth the price? It positions in the mid-premium tier alongside other estate-distilled and grain-to-glass bourbons. The heirloom grain provenance, entirely malted secondary grain bill, and transparent farm-to-bottle production justify its standing among craft bourbon enthusiasts who value traceable sourcing over mass-market pricing.

Why Bloody Butcher Bourbon?

What separates this bourbon from the broader craft landscape is total grain control — Jeptha Creed grows, harvests, and distills every kernel on their own Kentucky farmland. The use of heirloom Bloody Butcher corn, a red-kerneled variety with deep American agricultural roots, gives the spirit a flavor foundation fundamentally different from standard yellow dent corn bourbons. The all-malted secondary grain bill, an accidental discovery turned permanent practice, adds enzymatic richness that translates directly to palate complexity. For drinkers who want to know exactly where their bourbon comes from and taste the difference that heritage grain makes, this expression delivers on that promise with verifiable provenance and legitimate competition recognition.