From Blues to Bourbon: The Story Behind Cathead Distillery

Mississippi's first legal distillery since Prohibition didn't just bring spirits back to the state — it built a gathering place rooted in blues culture and community.

Here's why Cathead Distillery belongs on every Jackson itinerary.

If you're looking for a taste of Mississippi in downtown Jackson, make time for Cathead Distillery. Located at 422 South Farish Street, Mississippi's first legal distillery since Prohibition welcomes visitors for guided tours, tastings and craft cocktails just minutes from the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Farish Street Historic District. It is one of the city's signature visitor experiences, blending Mississippi history, music and craftsmanship under one roof.

A Name Rooted in Mississippi Blues

Cathead's story begins with two friends and a shared appreciation for Mississippi blues. Austin Evans and Richard Patrick founded the distillery in 2010 after recognizing an opportunity to revive legal distilling in a state that had been without one since Prohibition. They named the company after an old Mississippi blues expression.

Evans traces the name back to the culture they wanted to honor. "The name Cathead being representation of some of the blues history in our state — 'That's a cool cat, that cat can play' — that is a term that stemmed from blues music that influences all music as we know," he says. "It made sense that if the name had a good defining definition to where we are from and trying to represent it accurately."

Patrick and Evans

Credit: Cathead Distillery

Where Craft Meets Community

Music remains part of the company's identity. Long before they opened a distillery, Evans and Patrick were involved in promoting Mississippi music and supporting musicians across the state. That influence still shows up today, from the artwork on the bottles to the live music hosted at the distillery and the company's continued support of Mississippi's creative community.

Patrick says the goal has always been to build something that feels real to the people who live here. "Any local business has to appeal to locals or otherwise it's not real, it's not authentic," he says. "People from out of town don't want to visit if it's not appreciated by locals."

A Gathering Place Downtown

Cathead is a working distillery first, but it has grown into one of downtown Jackson's regular gathering places. The cocktail bar opens on Fridays and Saturdays, and the patio frequently hosts live music, food trucks and community events. It is just as common to see first-time visitors as it is people stopping by after work.

Its location also makes Cathead an easy addition to a day exploring downtown. Visitors can spend the morning at Jackson's museums, walk through the nearby Farish Street Historic District, enjoy dinner downtown and finish the evening with a cocktail made just a few feet from where the spirits were distilled. Few attractions bring together so many parts of Mississippi culture in one place.

Credit: Gavin and Karen Reinsberg

Cathead helped revive legal distilling in Mississippi, but its larger contribution has been giving visitors another way to experience the state. Every bottle reflects a piece of Mississippi's story, from its blues heritage to the people still making things by hand.

Author

Peter Kelly

Peter Kelly is a storyteller who moves between film, writing, and business strategy to capture ideas with clarity and imagination. His creative work spans documentary filmmaking, narrative development, and photography shaped by years of exploring cultures and adventures from the American South to the far reaches of the globe. His work is guided by curiosity, a love of wild places, and a commitment to stories that unravel human connection. In his free time, Peter can typically be found rappelling, scuba diving, or reading.