Matt Crittenden
Matthew J. Crittenden was born in May of 1985. Growing up along Mississippi's Gulf Coast meant Crittenden was living in a region whose relationship with whiskey stretched back generations, yet Crittenden himself did not develop a personal association with the spirit until his 20s. Nevertheless, the small community of Kiln, Mississippi itself had acquired a legendary reputation during the Prohibition era as a center of illicit whiskey production. Hidden among the pine forests and swamps of Hancock County, moonshiners operated stills that supplied customers throughout the Gulf Coast, and even reached cities such as Chicago. These stories became part of local folklore, and Crittenden developed an appreciation not only for bourbonitself but also for the colorful history surrounding its production. But rather than viewing that history merely as fanciful legend, he came to see it as the foundation upon which a legitimate modern distillery could eventually be built.
Unlike many entrepreneurs who enter the distilled spirits industry from agriculture or engineering, Crittenden first pursued an extensive education in business and law. He earned a degree in accounting before continuing to the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor. Recognizing the increasing importance of taxation and regulatory law in modern business, he subsequently completed a Master of Laws (LL.M.)in Taxation at Georgetown University Law Center. His academic preparation provided a sophisticated understanding of finance, corporate structure, taxation, and government regulation, knowledge that would later prove invaluable in one of the nation's most heavily regulated industries. Following completion of his legal education, Crittenden entered private practice as an attorney. But Crittenden soon concluded that tax law was not the career he envisioned for the remainder of his life. During those years he found himself continually returning to his longstanding interest in whiskey production and manufacturing. Rather than simply collecting bourbon or studying distilling as a hobby, he began considering whether Mississippi possessed the ingredients, history, and market potential necessary to support a serious whiskey distillery. That question ultimately proved more compelling than the practice of law.
As Crittenden evaluated his future, he recognized that Mississippi possessed an untapped advantage. Relatively few producers were creating premium whiskey entirely within Mississippi, yet the state's agricultural resources were abundant and local craftsmen possessed the skills necessary to fabricate industrial equipment. So, along with his father, James, Crittenden decided to transform that vision into reality by establishing a legal whiskey distillery right there in Kiln. The duo acquired an a former machine shop and converted it into a modern production facility capable of performing every stage of whiskey manufacture under one roof. Rather than outsourcing equipment, Crittenden deliberately sought local fabricators and welders to construct most of the distillery's components. The decision reflected more than economics; it embodied his belief that the business should reinvest in the community from which it emerged. Friends, relatives, and local tradesmen all contributed to the ambitious project, making the distillery as much a community effort as a private business venture.
From the beginning, Crittenden rejected the increasingly common practice of sourcing whiskey from large contract distillers and simply bottling it under a proprietary label. Instead, he committed to producing genuine grain-to-glass whiskey. Mississippi-grown grains would be mashed, fermented, distilled, barreled, matured, and bottled at the Kiln facility itself. That philosophy required considerably greater investment and far more patience than purchasing mature whiskey elsewhere, but it also provided complete control over quality and allowed every bottle to represent an authentic Mississippi product. So when Crittenden Distillery officially opened during 2018, it represented far more than another craft distillery entering an increasingly crowded marketplace. It marked the return of legal whiskey production to a community whose reputation had long rested upon illicit distilling. The symbolism was not lost on Crittenden, who often remarked that Kiln's famous moonshine history deserved to be celebrated legally rather than hidden in folklore. Among the distillery's earliest recognizable brands was Cut Above Whiskey, a name reflecting Crittenden's aspiration to produce spirits that exceeded ordinary expectations. As additional barrels reached maturity, the portfolio gradually expanded beyond initial offerings into bourbons and specialty releases designed to showcase different mash bills, barrel treatments, and maturation techniques.
Although Crittenden has maintained a relatively private personal life, he has revealed in interviews the importance he places on family. In addition to the close personal and working relationship he shares with his dad, James, Matt cherishes the time he has to spend with his sonConrad, and daughter, Cora Jane.
Today, Crittenden Distillery stands as one of Mississippi's most significant whiskey producers and an important participant in the continuing expansion of American craft distilling. By combining rigorous professional training, a respect for local history, and a commitment to genuine grain-to-glass production, Matt Crittenden has helped demonstrate that indeed, premium bourbon can originate from Mississippi. His work has contributed to establishing Mississippi as an emerging whiskey-producing state while honoring the traditions that first inspired his interest in distilling. Although much of his personal biography remains outside the public record, his professional legacy is already evident in the continued growth of Crittenden Distillery and in the increasing recognition that Mississippi whiskey has earned among enthusiasts of American bourbon.
Sources:
WLOX News, “Hancock County man opening whiskey distillery”, December 20, 2017, wlox.com
Mississippi Business Journal, “Hancock County's Crittenden Distillery”, 2023, msbusinessjournal.com
Crittenden Distillery official website, “Our Story,”/“Our Whiskey”, crittendendistillery.com
Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, “Crittenden Distillery”,msgulfcoastheritage.ms.gov
Contributed by Tracy McLemore, Fairview, Tennessee
