Kentucky bourbon a story of tradition and transition in 2025

Kentucky bourbon is a story of both tradition and transition in 2025. University of Kentucky students made history by blending and releasing the Wildcask Bourbon, raising over $100,000 for scholarships and research, showing new educational and philanthropic angles to the industry.

Established brands highlight challenges, with Wild Turkey’s parent company Campari and others like Brown-Forman and Diageo planning layoffs amid weaker U.S. spirits sales and overseas tariff concerns.

Meanwhile, innovation and tourism remain strong, from Woodford Reserve’s coveted Double Double Oaked national release to new bourbon-focused hotels like The Delegate in Frankfort. Stories also look at authenticity, buying tips, and the nuanced craft of barrel-making, reflecting both the heritage and the evolving hurdles Kentucky bourbon navigates today.

Bourbon barrels are aged in a warehouse at Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Ky., on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 1: THE BREADTH OF THE BOURBON INDUSTRY IN LEXINGTON: WHERE TO FIND THE WORLD’S BEST

Bourbon is a $9 billion industry in Kentucky, and Lexington is near the heart of Bourbon Country. The first registered distillery in Central Kentucky, Ashland Distillery, later known as “Old Tarr,” was established in Lexington in 1865. | Published January 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Liz Carey

NO. 2: NEW FRANKFORT HOTELS, RESTAURANTS LEAN INTO BOURBON TOURISM WITH ELEGANT DINING

Two stylish places to stay while you explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s distilleries and tasting rooms. | Published January 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Patti Nickell

Horses graze in a field before sunrise at Mill Ridge Farm in Fayette County, Ky., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 3: COUNTRY LIVING NAMES KENTUCKY CITY WITH RICH BOURBON HISTORY A 2025 AMERICAN HIDDEN GEM

The magazine credits the city as the “birthplace” of bourbon, and no, it isn’t Bardstown. | Published February 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Charlene Dillow, left, and Ron Bennett, right, placed the bottles in wooden boxes as Wild Turkey Diamond was bottled at the distillery located on U.S. 62 at the Kentucky River near Lawrenceburg, Ky., Friday, April 11, 2014. This is a special edition bottled for the 60th anniversary of Jimmy Russell’s involvement in the bourbon industry. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff

NO. 4: MORE LAYOFFS ARE COMING. WHICH KENTUCKY BOURBON DISTILLERS COULD BE HIT THIS TIME?

The spirits industry is facing economic headwinds on many fronts, from Trump’s tariff threats to sliding whiskey sales. | Published February 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Destined for a flip to a liquor store near you? Weller Special Reserve bottles for sale in the Buffalo Trace Distillery gift shop for $30 each. Customers can buy one bottle of each limited release every 90 days. By Janet Patton

NO. 5: KENTUCKY BOURBON BUYING GUIDE: TIPS ON WHAT TO BUY AND NOT GET SCAMMED ONLINE

There’s a lot of bourbon to choose from. But how do you know what buy these days? | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Blake Layfield, senior director and head of innovation, blending and quality at Maker’s Mark Distillery, pours Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series New York Edition into glasses in Loretto, Ky., on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 6: GUIDE: TIPS ON HOW TO PROPERLY POUR, DRINK KENTUCKY BOURBON

Here’s how to get more out of each pour. | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The Beam Institute’s inaugural Commercialization of Distilled Spirits course students pose for a group photo with honorary professor Herb Heneman, left, in JBBI’s on-site barrel house.

NO. 7: UK RELEASING A FIRST: WILDCASK BOURBON BLENDED BY UNIVERSITY DISTILLING STUDENTS

Limited bottles will be available in April. | Published March 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Buffalo Trace Distillery, where this bourbon was being dumped from a barrel, recently announced that two of its special Weller releases will be coming to store shelves.

NO. 8: ‘60 MINUTES’ TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO KENTUCKY BOURBON — OR AT LEAST INTO THE BARREL

Why the barrel is so import to whiskey. | Published April 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

Lisa Wicker has been named the master distiller of the new Garrard County Distillery in Lancaster.

NO. 9: DISTILLER AT SHUTTERED KY DISTILLERY: I WAS FIRED 11 DAYS AFTER HIRING ANNOUNCED

‘There was so much potential, it’s a shame,” said Lisa Wicker, former master distiller at Garrard County Distilling Company. | Published April 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

On the Friday before Kentucky Derby Day, Buffalo Trace usually puts out a special edition of its much-sought Blanton’s premium bourbon. The Derby bottle is a smaller version with a special sticker but the bourbon inside is the same. Fans line up well in advance to get a coveted bottle and sometimes share their purchases on social media.

NO. 10: WILL THERE BE A BLANTON’S DERBY BOURBON? IF NOT, HERE’S OTHER SPECIAL RELEASES

There are some once-a-year bottles out there for Derby. And Kentucky distilleries are getting in on the act. | Published April 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.