Craft Bourbon tour grows with new additions

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour has welcomed two new members – Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. in Louisville and Hartfield & Co. Distillery in Bourbon County.

Two distilleries have joined the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, taking its total to 10

Founded in 2012 to complement the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s (KDA) Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the tour now consists of 10 micro-distilleries in total.

Last year, a record number of tourists visited the Bourbon Trails, with the craft tour witnessing a 56% uplift in visitors to almost 100,000.

“Craft distilleries are a thriving part of our signature industry and are increasingly vital to the future of our iconic spirit,” said KDA president Eric Gregory said. “They are the next generation, and we’re all extremely proud of their growth and success.”

Originally opened in 1889 and closed in 1917, the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company was brought back to life by after 98 years of silence by the great-grandson of its founder.

Opened at a different location by Corky Taylor and his son, Carson, the distillery produces Bourbon, rye and moonshine.

Hartfield & Co became the first licensed distillery in Bourbon County since 1919 when it opened last year under the name The Gentelman Distillery.

“Adding experiences in both Louisville and Bourbon County adds to the appeal of the craft tour for visitors looking to learn more about the state’s distilling past and innovative future,” said Adam Johnson, director of the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail experiences.

Other participating craft tour distilleries include Barrel House, Corsair Artisan, Limestone Branch, MB Roland, New Riff, Old Pogue, Wilderness Trail, and Willett Distillery.