Lexington, KY – Bluegrass Distillers is what a craft distillery should be. They create their own recipes, distill their bourbon in an old-timey 250-gallon pot still, and age and bottle on site. Even their labels are hand-applied.
And they keep things local too. All of their ingredients are non-GMO and Kentucky Proud sourced, even down to the blue corn they use to make their Kentucky Straight Blue Corn Bourbon.
Kentucky Proud stands for foods, nursery items, crafts, agritourism sites, farmers’ markets, state parks, and many other products and destinations with roots in Kentucky soil. Kentucky Proud foods are raised, grown, or processed in Kentucky by Kentuckians.
Kentucky Proud website http://www.kyproud.com
The Tour
The tour starts in the main public room, serving as their shop, tasting bar, and mini classroom. The place is small, but they manage to keep everyone adequately distanced. Our guide, Maggie, did an excellent job engaging with the crowd and offering her unique take as she went along. I looked at my watch toward the end and was surprised we had been there an hour already.
Kentucky Blue Corn Bourbon, a specialty of Bluegrass Distillers, is made from 75% blue corn, 21% wheat, and 4% malted barley. Their website claims it’s unlike any other bourbon, the blue corn yields an earthy, nutty, and mildly vanilla flavor. I agree. It is a unique flavor and worth trying if you get the chance.
Tipsy, the cat joined us for most of the tour, competing with our guide Maggie for audience attention. He is reportedly a world-class mouser, or at least he thinks so.
The Neighborhood
If I had to pick one neighborhood to spend an afternoon in Lexington, this would be a top choice. Called the Bread Box district, named for the former occupant, the Rainbow Bread Factory, it’s now home to a bike exchange shop, seafood and burger restaurant, micro-brewery, and a few other small businesses.
One reason I like the area is that the Legacy Trail bike path runs through it. For my first visit back in 2019, I rode from the Kentucky horse park – a short 12-mile or so ride, and just long enough to work up a thirst and appetite. But more than that, there is noticeable energy and a youthful vibe about the place.
What a great way to spend an afternoon!
To book your Bluegrass Distilling tour, click here. Be sure to check the links on the Bread Box website to confirm the hours for the other businesses in the area.
What a great way to spend an afternoon!
To book your Bluegrass Distilling tour, click here. Be sure to check the links on the Bread Box website to confirm the hours for the other businesses in the area.
