RD1 Spirits to build new whiskey distillery in Lexington
4.8 million dollars will be invested in the project
A new whiskey distillery and visitor centre will be built in Lexington, Kentucky, in the coming months. The RD1 Distillery is set to open as early as August 2024, creating 11 full-time jobs.
The Kentucky Straight Bourbon brand RD1 (Registered Distillery One) is currently only sold on the US market and is still relatively unknown in Europe. However, they have already received numerous awards and are on course for expansion. RD1 Spirits was only founded in 2020 and draws on Lexington's bourbon tradition, which is based on the first distillery founded there in 1865. RD1 whiskey is produced in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, by Western Kentucky Distilling and this will continue to be so.
Designed as a show and research distillery
Only one barrel per week will be produced here at the new RD1 Distillery. It is a project that will primarily serve as a show distillery and experience centre to boost tourism in Lexington. However, RD1 Spirits also wants to dedicate itself to test distillations and research here. The 950 m² site is located in The Commons, a newly developed neighbourhood in Lexington.
“RD1 is expanding the boundaries of Lexington’s Distillery District and strengthening the appeal of what the great city of Lexington has to offer,” said Mark Stoops, RD1 shareholder and advisor, and Lexington business leader. “As one of the newest brands added to the Kentucky Bourbon TrailⓇ, RD1 Distillery at The Commons will help boost hometown pride and contribute to the vibrant, winning atmosphere of our community.”
The state of Kentucky, through the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority, will contribute $521,000 to the RD1 project, which has a total estimated cost of approximately $4.8 million.
Bringing visitors closer to the world of bourbon flavours
The RD1 Distillery will include a whiskey production facility with an 800-gallon pot still (around 3,000 litres), a 750-gallon fermenter and a 1,000-gallon mash cooker. An area will also be dedicated to barrel management. There will also be tasting rooms, a bar, a shop and rooms for private events.
“RD1 looks to allow guests to experience bourbon in a way that’s most comfortable to them,” said Mike Tetterton, chief executive officer of RD1 and long-time Lexington resident and entrepreneur. “For most of us, that starts with exploring your palate. From there, we like to ask ‘What else can bourbon do?’ And we fill that curiosity by experimenting with different woods that delicately dance with the bourbon and really draw some exceptional flavor profiles.”
Picture: RD1 Spirits
