LEXINGTON, Ky. – From labels to social media captions, writing is an essential part of one of Kentucky’s most iconic industries: bourbon. Students in Professor Janice W.  Fernheimer’s Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies (WRD) Bourbon Writing class recently got a firsthand look at the craft through a hands-on sensory and palate training workshop.  

The event, hosted by Jeptha Creed Distillery, featured a spread of alcohol-free sensory exercises, involving identifying nosing and flavor profiles from a variety of materials. Students nosed (and in some cases also tasted) items like char, vanilla beans, and bloody butcher cornbread, learning how to identify and describe them in writing — a crucial skill for crafting tasting notes, product descriptions, and marketing materials.  

Autumn and Joyce Nethery, the mother-daughter team behind Jeptha Creed, guided the students through the experience. Jeptha Creed is a female-majority, family-owned business based out of Shelbyville, Kentucky, known for their “ground-to-glass” approach and innovative flavors. Every step of the way, the passion for their craft and story inspired and offered valuable insight to students.

Students saw firsthand how a tenacious Kentucky spirit paired with strong writing skills can open doors to rewarding careers.