J.K. Williams Gold Zephyr Bourbon Whiskey
J.K. Williams Gold Zephyr Bourbon Whiskey is a 90-proof (45% ABV) straight bourbon aged 4 years in Peoria, Illinois — a revived Prohibition-era family recipe from J.K. Williams Distilling, distilled and bottled in the city once called the "Whiskey Capital of the World." The brand honors J.K. Williams himself, Peoria distiller and bootlegger, whose great-grandsons revived the label before Andy Faris and Stacy Shunk took the helm in 2019 with distiller Jeff Murphy. Small-batch and barrel-aged four years, it pours dark cherries, light tobacco, honeysuckle, and fresh mint over oak tannins — an award-winner (Gold, 2020 USA Spirits Ratings) that drinks like bourbon with a past. This 750mL bottle is craft whiskey with a genuine story. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 4 years — straight bourbon
- Origin: J.K. Williams Distilling, Peoria, Illinois — distilled and bottled in Peoria
- Recipe: Century-old family recipe (mash bill not published)
- Awards: Gold, 2020 USA Spirits Ratings; Silver, 2021 SFWSC; Best in State, ACSA Heartland
Peoria's Whiskey Ghost, Revived
Before Prohibition, Peoria distilled more whiskey than anywhere else on earth — the "Whiskey Capital of the World." J.K. Williams was one of its characters: distiller by trade, bootlegger by necessity when the drys won. His great-grandsons revived the family recipe, and since 2019 Andy Faris, Stacy Shunk, and distiller Jeff Murphy have been making it real again in a 20,000-square-foot Peoria facility. Four years in oak gives it genuine bourbon depth — this isn't sourced whiskey wearing a story; it's Peoria whiskey, made in Peoria. Taste more heartland craft in our bourbon whiskey collection or explore the J.K. Williams range.
Tasting Notes
Dark cherries and honeysuckle up front, with light tobacco, fresh mint, and oak tannins underneath. Medium-bodied at 90 proof — approachable neat, with enough spice to hold up in cocktails.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a splash of water to open the cherry notes. Makes a terrific old fashioned — the mint and cherry play beautifully with bitters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Peoria, the "Whiskey Capital of the World"?
Prohibition shuttered Peoria's distilleries in 1920; the industry never returned at scale — J.K. Williams is part of the city's craft-distilling revival.
Who was J.K. Williams?
A Peoria distiller of the Prohibition era — remembered as both distiller and bootlegger — whose family recipe anchors the modern brand.
How is Gold Zephyr different from big-brand bourbon?
Small-batch, four years old, made on a century-old family recipe in Peoria — craft scale and a genuine local story versus industrial production.
Order J.K. Williams Gold Zephyr Bourbon online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — a medal-winning taste of Peoria's whiskey revival.