Photo Credit: © Shannon Graham
The still house at Maker's Mark Distillery houses a 5-story continuous column still and the large beer wells outside are a temporary holding tank for fermented distiller's beer before it goes through the stills.
Why is it that this part of Kentucky is filled with bourbon distilleries? Very simply put, because everything they needed was right there, and it was the best of everything. Limestone is a distiller's dream because it filters the iron out and adds calcium to the water of the area. Iron in water supplies ruin the final bourbon, to understand it's detrimental effects, David Pickerell suggests doing an experiment at home. Fill a glass with cheap bourbon (you're going to throw it out so don't use the good stuff) and place an iron nail inside. After just a few days you'll see the bourbon turning colors, and eventually you'll have a black liquid where your bourbon once was. Pickerell also strongly suggests that you do not drink the result of this experiment, no matter how brave you are. It's also this limestone filtering and rich soil that is the perfect combination for growing bluegrass, which is perfect for the thoroughbred horses that share bluegrass fame with bourbon.