Terroir, Tradition and the Taste of Upper Tract West, Virginia

There’s something unmistakable about the land around our distillery in Upper Tract, West Virginia. Towering ridgelines. Quiet, unspoiled valleys. Skies that stretch wider than you expect. And if you look a little closer—or better yet, spend some time here—you’ll notice a curious pattern: the skies tend to stay clear. The air is drier. The storms seem to pass us by.

It’s not luck. It’s geography.

Thanks to our proximity to Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia, our distillery sits within what’s called a rain shadow—a natural weather phenomenon caused by the Allegheny Mountains. As weather systems roll east, the mountains force them to release their moisture on the western slopes. By the time they reach us in Pendleton County, the air has dried out. That puts Upper Tract among the driest places east of the Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service.

In fact, in 1930, Upper Tract recorded just 9.5 inches of rain—less than Tucson, Arizona that year. That’s not the kind of stat most associate with West Virginia, but it’s part of what makes this region so exceptional.

In winemaking and distilling, there’s a term that captures this idea: terroir. It’s more than just a location. Terroir refers to the distinct characteristics—climate, soil, elevation, water—that influence the flavor of what’s grown or crafted there. It’s the fingerprint of the land.

The dry air of Upper Tract allows our oak barrels to breathe steadily, encouraging evaporation and oxidation at just the right pace. And it all starts with what we put in the barrel—corn grown just a few miles down the road, nurtured by the same land and climate that shapes our spirits. The rhythm of this place becomes part of the process, and over time, it shapes the soul of our bourbon.

It’s no wonder that distillers and winemakers alike have long sought places like this—where nature works with you, not against you.

So whether you’ve visited us before or have yet to make the trip, know that what we craft here is inseparable from where it comes from. The land gives our bourbon its signature. We’re proud to carry it forward—one bottle at a time.