Spirits Label Opens Ky. Distillery

RD1 Spirits (Lexington, Ky.) has opened a new brand destination, the RD1 Distillery at The Commons. Located about a mile from its home city’s downtown on land once occupied by tobacco warehouses, the new facility “is designed to engage bourbon lovers and curious travelers with sensory-driven whiskey experiences and wood-finished science experiments,” the company said in a news release.

The $5 million attraction is expected to see up to 30,000 guests annually. “This is more than just a distillery,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear at opening ceremonies for the complex. “It’s a prime example of the type of opportunity bourbon tourism can offer communities across the commonwealth.”

Said Mike Tetterton, CEO of RD1 Spirits, “As we listened to our fans and their captivating interest around how we test unique woods from throughout the world, we reimagined our original distillery plans to ultimately give guests an experience like no other on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.”

Located at The Commons, a 42-acre mixed-use development, the RD1 Distillery has about 10,200 square feet, which the company says is almost triple the size of its former Tasting Room and Gift Shop.

Visual elements of the space include a 240-barrel rick for housing and aging distilled spirits that’s visible from inside and outside the building and a 10-foot-tall, handcrafted oak tree in the lobby that ascends into a glowing circular light fixture, a nod to Lexington’s four-plank horse farm fencing and bourbon’s connection to nature.

Tours at the facility include a stop in the “RD1 Forest,” an indoor experiential zone where guests walk among the trees while learning about forestry science, wood chemistry, the unique trees in RD1’s portfolio and current finishing experiments

“Bourbon’s ties to wood are undeniable,” said Mark Stoops, an RD1 investor/advisor who’s also Head Coach of the football team at the nearby University of Kentucky. “But RD1 is taking nature’s force to another level with barrel finishing that leaves guests with eyes wide open to what else is out there.”

Upstairs, guests can sample bourbon from the RD1 portfolio or experimental barrels that rotate every few months. The second floor is also home to a VIP room and a speakeasy that’s tucked behind a hidden door.

Other features of the complex include:

• Two private tasting rooms that can be combined into one, with seating for up to 36
• A bourbon bar that can seat 26
• A wrap-around patio with seating for up to 36, overlooking a future concert venue and greenspace of The Commons
• A gift shop with merch and limited bourbon releases.