It all started on a breezy spring day in 2017 at Jeptha Creed Distillery in Kentucky. The staff was out in the yard, spreading fresh straw across the property, when co-owner and vice president of operations Autumn Nethery spotted something unusual. As a bale of hay was lifted and pulled apart, four tiny orange kittens tumbled out — confused, blinking, and barely able to open their eyes.

“They were so small, barely with their eyes open, and clearly starving,” Nethery recalled in an interview with The Dodo.

No Mother in Sight — But a New Beginning in the Making

The team immediately looked around for the kittens’ mother, hoping she might return. But after a thorough search, it became clear — she was nowhere to be found. These little sisters had likely been alone for days, and without help, their chances of survival were slim.

The choice was obvious. The distillery had been toying with the idea of adopting a cat for the property, so why not open their hearts and doors to four? They named them after staple ingredients used in their craft: Malt, Wheat, Barley, and Rye.

Each kitten needed round-the-clock feeding, so the staff took turns bottle-feeding them, keeping them warm, and making sure they felt safe.

From Orphans to the Heart of the Distillery

Over the years, the sisters blossomed into healthy, confident cats. The distillery became their kingdom — a place filled with the scent of whiskey barrels, warm sunlight streaming through the windows, and a constant flow of friendly faces.

By day, the cats can be found lounging in their custom-built catio, watching the world go by or greeting guests during tours. They love the attention, often waking from their naps just to soak up pets and scratches from visitors.

“At night,” Nethery shared, “they turn into our security team — patrolling the grounds and keeping everything in check.”

A Rare Orange Girl Squad

What makes them even more remarkable is their color — and gender. Only about 20% of orange cats are female, yet all four of these sisters are vibrant ginger beauties. Their rarity hasn’t gone unnoticed; one fan on TikTok commented, “Love seeing a female-run business.”

Eight Years of Joy, Laughter, and Purrs

Now, nearly a decade later, Malt, Wheat, Barley, and Rye have become much more than mascots. They’re family. They’ve brought joy to the staff, charmed thousands of guests, and become an inseparable part of the distillery’s story.

The team at Jeptha Creed knows they were lucky that day in 2017 — lucky that those four little orange wanderers decided this distillery was the place they wanted to call home forever.