A look into Lexington’s historic Distillery District: Breweries, restaurants, live music
The Distillery District in Lexington is a popular stop for both locals and tourists looking for a nice place to eat, drink, or socialize in the city, and recently-opened businesses are adding to the district’s appeal.
The Distillery District dates back to 1879 when the James E. Pepper Distillery started producing bourbon. The distillery, and the land that came with it, was left abandoned for many years before efforts to redevelop the area got underway in 2008.
Now the district continues to be a key entertainment location known for its distilleries, bars, popular restaurants, live music and retail.
Distilleries, breweries and cider
People looking for bourbon tastings and distillery tours, have a few options to choose from in the Distillery District.
The James E. Pepper Distillery is where the Distillery District got its roots. Fully restored and reopened in December 2017, visitors can now book guided tours to view the working distillery and taste the famous whiskey from what was once the largest whiskey distillery in the United States.
Barrel House Distilling Company creates traditional fine spirits such as RockCastle Bourbon, Pure Blue Vodka, Oak Rum and Devil John Moonshine. The distillery offers $10 tours and tastings Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Located at the northeast entrance to Lexington’s Distillery District is Registered Distillery One, the first federally registered distillery in Lexington. Visitors are able to book tastings and explore the gift shop Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Those not looking for bourbon can still find unique locations for alcohol in the district.
Ethereal Brewing is known for its Belgian farmhouse and American craft beers. The brewery also has traditional IPAs, Saisons and Witbiers.
Wise Bird Cider Co. is a cidery that offers small-bath traditional-style ciders made from apples sourced mostly from Kentucky, but also from Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to their site.
Restaurants, bars, and dessert
The Distillery District offers a range of dining options from New York style pizza to German inspired dishes, and even an ice cream lounge.
Opened in January this year, District 7 Social is a restaurant and bar that serves modern German favorites, according to their website. Customers are able to dine inside or enjoy their meal in the covered patio breezeway. More than just a dining option, customers can also spend time in the ping pong lounge, rent out a duckpin bowling lane or play virtual golf on an indoor screen.
Inside of a renovated distillery space, Goodfellas Pizzeria is a Lexington staple that offers New York style pizza sold by the slice. Known for huge bread sticks and a large variety of bourbon options, the pizzeria got its start in Lexington, Kentucky, but has expanded locations to Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee.
Opened by a former firefighter, Halligan’s Bar and Grill is intended to be a place where first responders can gather alongside the public. The restaurant serves pub food such as cheese burgers, dry rub wings, and nachos. The bar also serves cocktails, local craft brews and ciders.
The Elkhorn Tavern is a lounge and taproom featuring Barrel House Distilling Co. products and a variety of other spirits, beer and wine. Available for dine-in or carry-out, the Elkhorn serves soups, salads and sandwiches as well as starters like house made beer cheese.
The Break Room is a dive bar in the district that runs out of a former wash and break room used by employees at the James E. Pepper Distillery. Originally built in 1920, the building was restored in 2014 and turned into a rustic bar that serves beers, cocktails and beer and shot combos. As one of the first businesses in the district, the bar has watched the district grow to become the popular entertainment location it is today.
Looking for dessert? Crank and Boom Ice Cream makes all products in-house and from scratch. Made using local ingredients, the ice cream maker serves signature flavored ice cream scoops, sundaes, ice cream cocktails and boozy floats.
Live music, arcades, retail and more
Housed in the former Old Tarr Distillery warehouse, The Manchester Music Hall was opened in 2015 as a music venue and event space. From country music to modern rock, the music hall features acts from a variety of genres. View their website to see upcoming events at the music hall.
Visitors to the area are now able to stay at The Manchester, a new boutique hotel with a rooftop bar, which opened on Friday. Just down the street from the music hall, the hotel is reminiscent of the surrounding industrial buildings and features aspects of Bluegrass bourbon and the horse industry in Lexington.
Looking for more live music? The Burl is an event venue located across from Manchester Street that averages around 300 nights of live music every year, according to their website. The the restored train depot features local and national bands in shows that are usually standing room only.
The Burl also offers an arcade at the venue inside of an old Texaco garage. The arcade features vintage arcade cabinets and a large collection of pinball machines.
Those at the venue can enjoy the full bar and grab food at Kismet, a restaurant in the same building as the arcade. Kismet serves options such as the “Basic B” cheeseburger, Kismet fries and Curry Udon Noodles
Those looking to shop in the Distillery District can stop at Relic Lexington to browse a public warehouse full of Kentucky themed furniture, handmade rugs, bourbon barrels and other vintage home necessities. “We like to offer products made by Kentuckians in Kentucky,” Relic’s website says.
New Additions to the area
As the Distillery District has continued to grow, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton announced in 2022 a new 25-spot parking lot to improve parking availability in the Distillery District. The new parking was added near the intersection of Manchester Street and Forbes Road.
In April, a new type of bar found its home on Manchester Street: The Cannabuzz Bar. The new cannabis bar has a dispensary and elixir bar for those looking for a natural high. The products are all natural and made with microdose THC concentrations that are able to be sold legally. The bar hopes to get a license to dispense medical marijuana now that it has been legalized in the state.
Planning to open by the end of 2023 between the Grand Reserve and The Manchester, Mazunte Bodega is a new restaurant that will serve authentic regional Mexican food. The company intends to have a full bar, grab-and-go market and an event space called La Brasa Event Venue. “We’re most excited that customers in Lexington will get to experience our food and culture,” Wendy Enriquez, Mazunte’s creative director, said in a news release.
This story was originally published June 2, 2023 at 9:26 AM.