Discovering the Legend Behind Casey Jones Distillery

Harvest Hosts is an incredible membership program with a diverse network of available hosts. So far, {count_host_classic} locations have opened their hearts and their homes and/or businesses to members of the Harvest Hosts RV community, allowing them overnight accommodations with no camping fees in serene places across North America. In return, members must make a small purchase to support the business. One of our unique hosts is Casey Jones Distillery in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Continue to learn all about this host’s incredible history, its origins within the Harvest Hosts program, and what visiting guests can expect to find.

The History

Casey Jones Distillery first opened in November 2014, but the history began many decades prior. During Prohibition, Al Capone got moonshine from many different places. But the shine he liked the most came from Golden Pond, Kentucky, where it was crafted by Casey Jones. Casey was Golden Pond’s master stillmaker. The stills he designed were unique and meticulously crafted. Revenuers could tell a still was Casey’s just by looking at it. Fellow moonshiners and Chicago’s most famous gangster knew Casey’s stills by the superior product they produced.In Golden Pond after World War I, jobs were scarce and moonshining became a necessity. There was plenty of great water, and abundance of corn, and sugar was easy to come by. But to be a great moonshiner, you needed a great still. And for that, you called Casey Jones. Casey’s craftsmanship and innovative design made him a legend in The Land Between The Lakes. When asked where he learned to build stills, Casey would grin and say, “The first still I ever saw was the first still I built.” For over thirty years, Casey Jones built stills all over Kentucky using only copper. He charged around $20 (about $350 in today’s dollars) and a gallon or two of the product, of course. Casey’s legendary ingenuity and passion inspired his grandson Arlon Casey Jones (“AJ”) to follow in his footsteps. Casey built his last still in 1967. AJ used that still, which is on display in the Casey Jones Distillery Lounge, as a guide to build the still we use today. As our Master Distiller, AJ handcrafts every batch of Casey Jones Moonshine using a recipe that has been handed down through generations of the Jones family. A family recipe cooked in a family still – it doesn’t get more authentic than that.

The Business Today

Today, the Jones family continues to pursue the distillation of the very best authentic craft spirits we can manage. Visitors can enjoy a drink in their lounge, treat themselves in the gift shop, wander through their 73 acres of beautiful Kentucky countryside, relax by the pond, or all of the above. Whether you’re dropping by for a drink or for the day, Casey Jones Distillery is a guaranteed good time.Currently, they serve a variety of moonshines and a bourbon whiskey. Casey Jones Moonshine is available by the bottle at package and liquor stores and by the drink at restaurants and bars throughout Kentucky. They also host events throughout the year, for those who would like to celebrate a special event on their property.

Joining the Harvest Hosts Program

Casey Jones Distillery joined the Harvest Hosts family about a year ago. RVers tend to fit right in with the adventurous and humorous environment of the distillery. In just one short trip through the distillery, they can meet the incredible staff, taste outstanding distilled spirits, and learn about the Jonesy family with a tour. Along with the distillery, there are a number of great places to visit, people to meet and food to eat closeby. In addition, Casey Jones Distillery is on the Stateline Whiskey Tour and The KY Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.Casey Jones Distillery has such a rich history and is an excellent Harvest Hosts location to visit. Be sure to stop by next time you are in the Southern Kentucky/Northern Tennessee area. Have you visited Casey Jones Distillery? Would you visit in the future? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!