Our Story

Back 40 Bourbon was born out of a love for the land, a stubborn streak for protecting what’s pure, and a dream to build something lasting, starting with two ears of Jimmy Red Corn.

Because Jimmy Red is an open-pollinated heirloom variety, it’s vulnerable to wind, weather, and pollen drift from commercial GMO corn. That’s why we grow it tucked deep in the back forty, safely away from roadways and neighboring fields, surrounded by timber, tree lines, and freshwater. This natural isolation helps preserve the purity and flavor of the corn, while the tough midwest soil gives it grit and character.

The idea to grow this extraordinary corn came as we were searching for ways to make our first farm. In 2017, we didn’t get that first farm, but the journey had already begun. By 2018, we planted our very first crop of Jimmy Red Corn on a back field a cousin let us rent, and the bourbon dream started taking shape.

A year later, we expanded to a second back forty just a few miles from where we grew up, and with growing momentum behind the bourbon, we circled back to that original back forty that sparked it all. With a little luck and a lot of persistence, we finally made it ours.

Today, we’ve built our family’s home on the edge of that farm. We continue to grow Jimmy Red in that secluded back forty, always keeping it pure, protected, and closely watched. From just two ears of corn to a full field of dreams, Back 40 Bourbon is our way of preserving heritage, raising a family, and raising a glass to where it all began.