Horse Capital of the World
When riding along the gently bending hills of the Bluegrass and admiring a patchwork scheme of horse farms surrounding Lexington, you might begin to agree with American pioneer Daniel Boone’s famous words: “Heaven must be a Kentucky kind of place.” The secret to the region’s undeniable beauty lies underneath its blue-tinted grass. The limestone-rich source of water that nourishes world-class horses also supplies Bourbon makers with an ingredient that only nature can perfect.
In the mid-1800s, Lexington’s Manchester Street was a major hub of Kentucky’s Bourbon distilling industry. But Bourbon-making was absent in urban Lexington for many decades during the 20th century. An influx of new distilleries has ended the Bourbon drought, revitalizing a Kentucky tradition and putting downtown Lexington back on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail map.
Lexington Distilleries:
- Barrel House Distilling Company
- Bluegrass Distillers
- James E. Pepper Distillery
- Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.
- Town Branch Distillery
Beyond the Distillery
There is also a vibrant craft-brewing scene with breweries located throughout the city: