JK Williams Distilling has gotten a new lease on life and is now a new look. Last year, Andy Faris and Stacy Shunk announced the purchase of the historic Peoria, IL brand. Now, they are releasing their whiskey at retail and opening a 20,000 square foot warehouse and production facility.
To carry on the legacy of Peoria’s oldest continuously operating distillery, Faris and Shunk hired veteran distiller Jeff Murphy to craft the its portfolio. Murphy, who worked on brands like Rebecca Creek Whiskey and Bayou Rum, recently moved to Peoria from Louisiana, to take the role.
“Peoria was once the Whiskey of the Capital of the World, and our namesake, J.K. Williams, was a bootician and Prohibition legend,” said Faris. “We’re excited to revive not only the brand but the culture of whiskey production in the area.”
The first releases from JK Williams Distilling tapped into recipes that date back a century including Gold Zephyr Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a spirit barrel-aged in small batches for four years. The will also release Stormy River High Rye Whiskey (see below). It is \also barrel-aged in small batches for four years and relies on a recipe passed down by Williams. The label and name pay homage to the nearby Illinois River.
“Our initial releases are a nod to J.K.’s history of distilling fine whiskeys, but I look forward to expanding the portfolio to a wide range of spirits,” said Murphy.
Gold Zephyr Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Stormy River High Rye Whiskey will be available for sale at select retailers in the Peoria and Central Illinois region for $59.99 and $65.99, respectively.
