Law advances allowing Kentucky distillery drinking

A bill allowing Kentucky distilleries to sell Bourbon for consumption on the premises has been given unanimous approval at a committee hearing.

House Bill 198 would allow Kentucky distilleries like Buffalo Trace to sell their products on-site for immediate consumption

As it stands, distilleries in the State can give away just one ounce (28ml) of their product to visitors, but are forbidden from selling any for immediate consumption.

A change to the law would give distilleries the ability to sell their own products in their visitor centres either straight up or in cocktails such as Kentucky favourite, the Mint Julep.

However, members of the House Licensing & Occupations Committee unanimously approved House Bill 198, advancing it to the next stage.

Ken Lewis, owner of New Riff Distillery in Newport, said the law would help grow Kentucky’s craft distilling industry, allowing it to compete with those operating in other states.

“We want Kentucky to be in the forefront of craft distilling in the United States,” he said. “We don’t want that mantle to go to Colorado or Oregon or Washington. We want it for Kentucky.”