Kentucky Distillers’ Association boasts most members since Prohibition

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) has inaugurated seven new members, bringing its tally to the highest since the repeal of Prohibition.

Boundary Oak Distillery in Elizabethtown is one of the seven new distilleries joining the KDA

The association now counts 27 distilleries within the state as members, which according to KDS president Eric Gregory, is the most since the 1930s.

“We are entering the golden age of Bourbon,” Gregory said. “The growth is staggering, and it’s providing a tremendous benefit to Kentucky in terms of jobs, tax revenue and millions of investment.”

The seven newest members are:
Bluegrass Distillers, Lexington
Boundary Oak Distillery, Elizabethtown
Casey Jones Distillery, Hopkinsville
Dueling Grounds Distillery, Franklin
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Louisville
The Gentleman Distillery, Paris
Three Boys Farm Distillery, Frankfort

Joe Fraser, chairman of the KDA’s board of directors and vice president of operations at Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., said: “We’re thrilled that our distilling family keeps getting bigger and bigger.

“The most important thing to realise is that all our members are committed to a common goal: to secure the integrity of our industry and to strengthen Kentucky’s rightful place as the one, true and authentic home for Bourbon.

“We have achieved much by working together, and the best is yet to come.”

The Kentucky Bourbon industry is worth US$3 billion. Producers have invested over US$400m in the last five years and are expected to pump another US$630m in the coming five years to meet demand.