Rhythm River Distillery

Brings Bourbon Distilling Back to Henderson After 100 Years

Photos by Jesse Lykins

More than a century after spirits were last distilled and bottled in Henderson, Kentucky, co-founder and president Andrew Powell is bringing the tradition back with the opening of Rhythm River Distillery.

Located on the former Municipal Power & Light property near downtown and the Ohio River, the craft distillery aims to revitalize the historic utility site while serving as a local gathering place and regional destination.

“We wanted to build something that would outlast us,” Powell said. “It’s hard to think of many things that are more ‘Kentucky’ than bourbon. We love being from Kentucky, especially Western Kentucky–and our home in Henderson. It has been more than 100 years since spirits were distilled and bottled here. The opportunity to bring that tradition back, and build something our community could be proud of, was simply too meaningful to pass up.”

Powell and his wife, Meredith, explored multiple locations in Henderson County and surrounding communities before choosing their hometown. Rather than building a massive industrial facility on the outskirts, the pair selected the former power plant property to place a small, state-of-the-art craft distillery right in the thick of downtown.

The distillery’s name reflects both local geography and a personal philosophy regarding the town’s identity, history, and music culture.

“To us, Rhythm River is Henderson as well as a philosophy,” Powell said. “It’s not just the quaint river town with incredible music festivals–but Henderson has a distinct identity. Our community meshes new prosperity with historic tradition to make a truly remarkable place. We also feel Rhythm River embraces the outlook we seek to espouse. Regardless of where the current takes you, make harmony with it. Don’t just go with the flow; create a melody worth sharing. We want people to embrace Rhythm River, great spirits and great experiences that are unashamedly Henderson and unmistakably authentic.”

When doors open, the facility will debut with hand-selected Rivertown label whiskeys, along with Spring Garden Gin and Vodka. The initial release marks the first whiskeys bottled in Henderson since Prohibition, while the gin and vodka represent the first spirits distilled in Henderson in over a century. In time, house-distilled Rhythm River whiskeys will mature for release, with long-term plans to distribute globally.

To differentiate from established brands across the state, Powell noted the distillery refuses to manufacture a mythical backstory. Instead, the river, local architecture, music, commerce, and historical personalities are woven directly into the physical space.

The visitor center is designed to feel warm, immersive, and slightly theatrical, giving guests the feeling of stepping into another era before realizing it sits atop a working distillery. Beyond tours and tastings, the venue will host live entertainment, cocktails, special experiences, and private events to encourage repeat visits from locals and tourists alike.

Community partnership serves as a core strategy for the operation. The founders engaged a Henderson-based architect, hired local contractors, and established partnerships with nearby restaurants, retail shops, and innkeepers to drive broader economic energy downtown.

Bringing the project to life required overcoming construction hurdles, regulatory demands, and the logistical challenge of turning imagination into a physical facility. Despite those obstacles, Powell views hospitality as the true measure of success.

“They may forget the proof of a whiskey or exactly how a still works, but they’ll remember the people, the atmosphere, the stories and who they shared a drink with,” Powell said. “Our desire in hospitality is to create memories, not just customers.”

Looking toward the distillery’s long-term legacy, Powell hopes the venture serves as an anchor for ongoing regional growth.

“We hope Rhythm River was just the next stepping stone to more amazing things happening in Henderson,” Powell said. “We hope it feels like it has always belonged here, a Henderson institution that created jobs, brought people downtown, introduced visitors to our community, and gave the next generation something worth carrying forward. Twenty years from now, we don’t want people talking about what we built; we want them talking about what Henderson built around it.”