W.A. Gaines and Company, Historic whiskey distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.
W.A. Gaines and Company was a whiskey distillery located on West Main Street in downtown Frankfort, Kentucky. The facility produced sour mash whiskeys using local resources and traditional distillation techniques.
The company formed in 1868 from the reorganization of Gaines, Berry & Co and operated the Hermitage distillery until Prohibition forced its closure. This marked the end of a major whiskey-making era in the city.
The name Hermitage, drawn from the distillery's location near an old hermitage structure, became synonymous with the whiskeys produced here and reflected the site's spiritual and industrial past merging together.
The location on West Main Street provided direct access to transportation routes essential for moving materials and finished products. Today, visitors can explore the downtown area to understand the historic layout and setting of the distillery site.
The Old Crow and Old Hermitage brands were produced at this distillery and gained worldwide recognition. These products became among Kentucky's most successful exports during the pre-Prohibition era.
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