COLUMBUS, KY (April 2026) – The Ingram Distillery, home of the world’s only floating barrelhouse, is now officially open to the public. Visitors can walk the historic grounds on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, step aboard the one-of-a-kind floating barrelhouse, sip award-winning river-aged whiskies, and enjoy stunning river views.
The Ingram Distillery is also proud to announce a new partnership with One Mississippi, the nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, strengthening, and restoring the Mighty Mississippi River.
Three immersive tour experiences are now available, giving guests an exclusive look into the distillery’s innovative River Aging process that creates its distinctive, award-winning whiskies:
Barge to Bottle Classic Tour
Private Chartered Experience (private tour and tasting)
Mellow on the Mississippi Retreat – a curated evening featuring exclusive tastings, a chef-prepared dinner, and overnight stay
“We couldn’t be more excited to open our grounds to the public and announce our partnership with One Mississippi — an organization that cares as deeply as we do about the Mississippi River,” said Founder Hank Ingram. “Visitors will experience the perfect blend of history and innovation as they see firsthand how the river’s motion, humidity, and temperature swings shape our whiskies. We’re proud to share this special place and our story with everyone who loves great bourbon and the river.”
The partnership stems from a shared love of the Mississippi River and a commitment to preserving it for future generations. To celebrate Earth Day (April 22), The Ingram Distillery will donate 10% of all sales from April 22–26 (both on-site and online) to One Mississippi. The distillery will also support the organization’s annual River Days of Action, including Mississippi River Day on June 2.
“The unique connection between The Ingram Distillery’s award-winning, river-aged whiskies and the Mississippi River makes them a natural partner in our work,” said Kelly McGinnis, Executive Director of One Mississippi. “This Earth Day initiative marks the beginning of a powerful collaboration that will benefit the river and the communities along its banks.”
The public opening follows another strong year for the distillery. In 2025, it released the latest vintage of its ultra-premium O.H. Ingram Flagship Bourbon and introduced Uncharted, a new Kentucky wheated bourbon. The brand’s award-winning lineup is now available in eight states, including recent expansion into Alaska and Texas.
About Ingram Distillery
The Ingram Distillery traces its roots to a deep, multi-generational connection with the Mississippi River. Founder Hank Ingram, whose family has been involved in river commerce for five generations since the original O.H. Ingram began shipping oak logs in 1857, drew inspiration from early American whiskey history. In the days before reliable railroads, Kentucky bourbon barrels were often floated down the Mississippi to New Orleans markets, where the constant motion, temperature swings, and humidity of the river naturally enhanced the spirit. Hank sought to revive this lost tradition, and in 2015 he pioneered the world’s first permanent floating rickhouses — custom-built inside former grain barges — to age whiskey directly on the water in Western Kentucky.
Moored along the banks of the Mississippi River in Columbus, Kentucky, beside the historic Columbus-Belmont State Park, The Ingram Distillery creates award-winning whiskies that spend their entire maturation entirely on the river. The unique “River Aging” process — driven by the barge’s gentle motion, extreme daily temperature fluctuations, and high humidity — accelerates flavor extraction from the oak while reducing the angel’s share, resulting in remarkably smooth and complex bourbons mature beyond their years. From the flagship O.H. Ingram River Aged Bourbon to the later addition of Uncharted Kentucky Wheated Bourbon, every drop tells a story of history, innovation, and a profound respect for the Mighty Mississippi. In 2026, the distillery opened its scenic bluff-top grounds to the public, inviting visitors to experience this one-of-a-kind floating barrelhouse firsthand.
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