Inside the MGPI Distillery, Lawrenceburg, Indiana (Photo Essay)

For Whisky Advocate, I wrote an in-depth feature about the famous–some would say infamous–distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. You can read an online exclusive here. You’ll need to back order the print version.

My camera and I captured the distillery in its entirety. I’ve not made these photos public until now. Here’s the full gallery. Below are my favorite shots.

Most distilleries are polished and have shiny "show off" warehouses. Not at MGPI. These are working warehouses. — Most distilleries are polished and have shiny “show off” warehouses. Not at MGPI. These are working warehouses.

Barrels fascinate me. They fascinate me even more when gloves sit atop them with shadows. Who was working these barrels and whose whiskey is this? Questions surround every barrel at MGPI.

This is a 95-percent rye whiskey mash. It smells so distinct, almost like you're standing in the middle of a rye harvest. While bourbon's mash skews toward sweet and earthy, rye is undeniably spicy in a bakery way. — This is a 95-percent rye whiskey mash. It smells so distinct, almost like you’re standing in the middle of a rye harvest. While bourbon’s mash skews toward sweet and earthy, rye is undeniably spicy in a bakery way.

I found Greg's hands fascinating. He broke his index finger playing softball and has earned those callouses. I thought they contrasted nicely against the yellow kernels. I found Greg’s hands fascinating. He broke his index finger playing softball and has earned those callouses. I thought they contrasted nicely against the yellow kernels.