RD1 Spirits has released plans to build a £4.8-million distillery at The Commons, a Lexington-based entertainment district in Kentucky.
RD1 Distillery at The Commons will be open in August 2024 and create 11 jobs within the community. The brand destination will function as a fully working distillery that tourists can visit and explore, as well as producing one barrel of bourbon per week for research and development purposes. The building will be more than double the size of its current tourist destination, the ‘Tasting Room & Gift Shop’ located on Manchester Road, Lexington, and be set over 10,215 square feet of space.
“RD1 is expanding the boundaries of Lexington’s Distillery District and strengthening the appeal of what the great city of Lexington has to offer,” said Mark Stoops, RD1 shareholder and advisor, and Lexington business leader. “As one of the newest brands added to the Kentucky Bourbon TrailⓇ, RD1 Distillery at The Commons will help boost hometown pride and contribute to the vibrant, winning atmosphere of our community.”
Visitors to the new distillery can expect to find outdoor seating split over two levels of the building, an interactive history-meets-innovation experience of Lexington’s bourbon milestones; a fermentation-to-distillation tour; four private tasting rooms; a glass-enclosed R&D lab for wood finishing of Kentucky Straight Bourbon and barrel thieving; a VIP speakeasy tasting room; a craft cocktail bar; a gift shop; and space for private events.
As well as an 800-gallon pot still, the distillery will include a 175-gallon pot still, a 750-gallon fermenter, and a 1,000-gallon mash cooker.
Bourbon industry veteran Don Hardwick of Louisville – also a shareholder in RD1 – is leading the distillery design of RD1 Distillery at The Commons. “We want RD1 Distillery at The Commons to serve as a cornerstone of education, exploration, and entertainment in Lexington,” Tetterton added. “As a brand founded by Lexington entrepreneurs, we are motivated by the bourbon giants of our past and look to honor them with bourbon growth right here in our hometown.”
In December 2023, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced approval of $521,000 in incentives for RD1’s project from the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority, upon recommendation by the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet. “This exciting new investment will provide a great bourbon experience for visitors to the Fayette County area. As we continue to see growth in Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry, projects like this are also adding momentum to our tourism efforts,” said Gov. Beshear. “I want to congratulate RD1 Spirits’ leadership and look forward to the positive impact the project will have on the tourism industry and the local community.”
In July 2023, RD1 Spirits were added to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a road trip-style experience for bourbon lovers to visit established in 1999 by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
Sources: BusinessWire and Kentucky Bourbon Trail
