The owners of a Lexington-based distillery and several dignitaries cut the ribbon on a new research, development and tasting facility named for the first Kentucky distillery to register with the federal government. RD1, short for Registered Distillery 1, will become a stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman said bourbon has a $9 billion annual economic impact in the state.
“The Kentucky Bourbon Trail saw an extraordinary 2.7 million guests in 2024 at our nearly 120 distilleries all across Kentucky. And RD 1 is set to expand upon that.”
The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority approved a $521 thousand incentive package for RD1, which is in a new development off West Main Street called Turner Commons. After the opening ceremony, CEO Mike Tetterton was asked whether he was concerned about the ongoing trade war…