Whiskey Thief Wins Two North American Distillery Tour Awards
Artfully Bourbon / October 13, 2026The Franklin County farm distillery’s hands-on experience lets visitors taste straight from barrels and fill their own bottles.
Walter Zausch & Amy Fox of Whiskey Thief with Graham Cooke of the World Travel Awards / Photo Credit: Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. lets visitors do what distillery workers usually do: pull whiskey directly from a barrel and fill a bottle themselves. Now that experience has earned two North American honors at the 2026 World Travel Awards.
The official winners list confirms Whiskey Thief won North America’s Leading Distillery Tour and North America’s Leading Whisk(e)y Distillery Tour. The awards were presented October 11 at the Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony in Jamaica, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader’s reporting.
The broader distillery tour category included Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, Angel’s Envy, Rabbit Hole, New York Distilling Company and TX Whiskey Ranch. For a smaller Kentucky operation, that is a substantial group of established whiskey destinations to finish ahead of.
What to know
- Distillery: Whiskey Thief Distilling Co.
- Location: 283 Crab Orchard Road, Frankfort, Kentucky
- Setting: A 127-acre working farm in Franklin County
- Experience: Direct barrel tasting and the opportunity to hand-fill a bottle for purchase
Whiskey Thief describes its thieving experience as tasting from five barrels, with whiskey served uncut and unfiltered. You can book options through the distillery’s website.
Why it matters
The hands-on element gives Whiskey Thief a clear identity. Visitors can explore individual barrels, choose what they enjoy and take home a bottle they filled themselves. For anyone building a Kentucky whiskey itinerary, that is a specific reason to stop beyond familiarity with the label.
The award’s scope matters, too. World Travel Awards uses votes from consumers and travel-industry professionals, with verified professional votes carrying twice the weight of standard votes. These honors recognize the tourism experience. They do not establish how any particular barrel will taste.
The AB take
We like seeing a smaller distillery earn attention for making the visitor part of the experience. Tasting before choosing a bottle helps, and filling it yourself connects the purchase to the place.
For drinkers who enjoy exploring individual barrels, Whiskey Thief has earned a spot on the trip-planning list. Let the experience get you through the door and the whiskey in your glass decide what comes home.
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