The breadth of the bourbon industry in Lexington: Where to find the world’s best

Editor’s Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history - some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.

Jan. 24: Lexington is home to seven bourbon distilleries, tied with Louisville.

Since its early days, Lexington has been home to bourbon distilleries. The first registered distillery in Central Kentucky, Ashland Distillery, later known as “Old Tarr,” was established in Lexington in 1865.

Located on Manchester Street, the distillery is said to have produced up to 6,000 barrels per year at its peak. During the 19th century, Lexington’s west end was home to several distilleries.

Both the Lexington Distillery and the James E. Pepper Distillery were located on Manchester Street back in the day and used water from Town Branch to make their spirits.

Today, however, Lexington and Louisville run a close second in number of distilleries to Bardstown with 11.

What are key ingredients to bourbon’s development?

Experts point to three key Kentucky superlatives that are essential to great bourbon: Its ideal climate, fertile soil and limestone water.

Statewide there are 100 distilleries in 42 counties, up from just 19 distilling establishments in eight counties in 2009. Bourbon employs more than 7,000 people in the state and is a major economic driver contributing more than $9 billion in economic output, officials estimate.

That’s a lot of mint juleps and old-fashioneds.

This story was originally published January 27, 2025 at 4:00 AM.