Popular Kentucky Distilleries: Bluegrass Distillers

OriginLexington, Kentucky, United States
ManufacturerBluegrass Distillers
EstablishedOpened in 2012
OwnershipNathan Brown, Ben Franzini, Sam Rock

Introduction

Bluegrass Distillers, founded in 2013 in Lexington, Kentucky, has established itself as a prominent distillery known for its meticulous craftsmanship and dedication to quality. Their flagship product, the Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon Whiskey, showcases a blend of 75% yellow corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley aged for a minimum of two years, offering rich butterscotch and spice notes. Additionally, the Elkwood Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey exemplifies the distillery’s commitment to excellence, crafted from Mash Bill #1 with 75% yellow corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley.

Bluegrass Distillers’ journey includes acquiring the historic Elkwood Farm in 2018, with recent expansions in 2023 leading to a cutting-edge distillery set to enhance production capacity significantly. Noteworthy releases like the Blue Corn Straight Bourbon and Elkwood Reserve mark milestones in their history, while key figures like co-owner Sam Rock and the dedicated team underscore the company’s success. Through community engagement initiatives like the Philanthropy Barrel Program and events like the annual 5K run/walk at Elkwood Farm, Bluegrass Distillers continues to embody a blend of tradition, innovation, and community spirit.

Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon Whiskey, which is Bluegrass Distillers’ flagship bourbon made from a high-rye mash of 75% yellow corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. It features aromatic notes of butterscotch and spice after aging in barrels for at least two years.

Elkwood Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey a semi-premium luxury product of Bluegrass Distillers made from their Mash Bill #1 consisting of 75% yellow corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. This product showcases the distillery’s commitment to quality and innovation.

Timeline

  • Bluegrass Distillers was founded in 2013 in Lexington, Kentucky by a small team of passionate individuals.
  • The distillery started by meticulously mashing every ounce of grain by hand, demonstrating their dedication to quality and attention to detail.
  • In 2018, Bluegrass Distillers embarked on an exciting new chapter by acquiring the historic Elkwood Farm in Midway, Kentucky.
  • Construction began in 2023 on an $8 million, state-of-the-art distillery facility at Elkwood Farm, which will increase production capacity to 20,000 barrels per year.
  • The new distillery is expected to open in fall 2023 and will feature six 18,000-gallon fermentation tanks and a 36″ x 45-foot-tall column.
  • Bluegrass Distillers has been utilizing the Elkwood Farm property to grow their own heirloom blue corn, which is used in the production of their bourbon.

Famous Product Releases

  • Bluegrass Distillers’ Blue Corn Straight Bourbon, including their bottle-in-bond expression, which is believed to be one of the first of its kind.
  • Elkwood Reserve, a 9-year single barrel bourbon whiskey released to commemorate the groundbreaking of the new Elkwood Farm distillery.

Important People

  • Sam Rock, co-owner of Bluegrass Distillers, who is originally from Woodford County and is overseeing the expansion to Elkwood Farm.
  • The dedicated team of distillery workers who have been with Bluegrass Distillers since the beginning, contributing to the company’s success.

Significant Historical Events

  • Bluegrass Distillers’ acquisition of the historic Elkwood Farm property in 2018, which will serve as the site of their new, larger distillery.
  • The groundbreaking ceremony for the $8 million Elkwood Farm distillery in 2023, attended by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
  • Bluegrass Distillers’ 10th anniversary in 2023, celebrated with the release of the Elkwood Reserve bourbon.

Interviews

  • In an interview, co-owner Sam Rock discussed the company’s humble beginnings as a “hobby kind of thing” that has grown beyond their expectations.
  • Rock also highlighted the importance of the Lexington community to Bluegrass Distillers, noting the advantages of being based in the city and not solely relying on the Bourbon Trail.
  • The distillery team was described as “passionate people that have been doing this for a long time,” dedicated to their craft and the growth of the business.

Products and Practices

  • Bluegrass Distillers is known for their commitment to quality, attention to detail, and use of locally-sourced ingredients, such as their heirloom blue corn.
  • The distillery has a Philanthropy Barrel Program, through which they have raised over $75,000 for local non-profits.
  • Bluegrass Distillers also hosts an annual 5K run/walk at Elkwood Farm, further demonstrating their community-focused approach.

Sources


[1] https://bluegrassdistillers.com/about-us/
[2] https://bluegrassdistillers.com
[3] https://bluegrassdistillers.com/elkwood-farm/
[4] https://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/bluegrass-distillers-breaks-ground-at-historic-elkwood-farm-new-8-million-distillery-to-increase-production-100x/
[5] https://www.lex18.com/news/bluegrass-distillers-built-on-love-for-lexington-over-last-decade