Christian County’s two craft distilleries — Casey Jones and MB Roland — each announced on Monday that they had received awards in national competitions.
Casey Jones Distillery’s Small Batch Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon was awarded the Silver Medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Arlon “A.J.” Jones and his wife, Peg Hays, established the distillery in 2014 on their Witty Lane farm a few miles west of Hopkinsville. Cody Turner joined them as a partner in the business last year.
MB Roland received a Best in Category Award and Gold Award for Taste/Flavor for its Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey at 2023 ASCOT Awards Competition. In addition, the MB Roland Barker’s Mill Bourbon (Bottled in Bond) received two Gold Awards — for Taste/Flavor and Marketing/Design.
Paul and Merry Beth (“MB”) Tomaszewski founded MB Roland in 2009 in the St. Elmo community. It’s located in South Christian off Kentucky 115 near Pembroke. The owners describe their business as “Kentucky’s first completely “grain to glass” craft distillery.”
In the past year, Casey Jones and MB Roland have each built a rickhouse — a structure used to store and age distilled spirits.
Both distilleries are also part of the Kentucky Craft Bourbon Trail.
