Heaven Hill marked a historic milestone yesterday with the first barrel filled at the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown. Nearly three decades after a fire destroyed the original facility, the event celebrates the return of distilling to the Bourbon Capital of the World and ushers in a new era for Heaven Hill as …
By Randall H. Borkus Rating: A Richard Thomas, is my friend, managing editor and the owner of the online magazine The Whiskey Reviewer. He released a book last month called Whiskey Stories: The True Spirit Behind the Labels. This is not Thomas’ first book, so here we have a seasoned, or shall I say well-aged …
By Richard Thomas In my new book Whiskey Stories (due out March 4), I made some observations on the attention given to Nathan Green, the slave (later freedman) who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey, and the rise of African-American distillers before, during and after the spotlight was placed on Green’s story. As part of …
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today hailed the groundbreaking agreement made by President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lower India’s tariffs on bourbon, opening the world’s largest whiskey market for significant increases in Kentucky Bourbon offerings. “We have seen worldwide, when trade restrictions are eased, that the elegance and complexity of Kentucky Bourbon …
After becoming the first malt house to become third-party certified for regenerative agriculture in 2024, Riverbend Malt House is delighted to introduce Regenified™ Southern Select. This malted 2-row barley product is crafted from Southern grown Certified Regenified™ Avalon barley. Regenified is a practice and outcomes-based land verification and product certification program. Its framework recognizes the …
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) today announced Elizabethtown’s Whiskey House of Kentucky (Whiskey House) as the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Founded in 2021 by industry veterans David Mandell (co-founder and former CEO of Bardstown Bourbon Company [BBCo]), John Hargrove (former Master …
Kentucky’s Castle & Key Distillery has announced the completion of Phase 1 of a major solar energy project as part of its ongoing sustainability initiatives. With this investment, the distillery has made progress toward relying on renewable energy. The $2 million investment was supported by the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant, a federal …
By Richard Thomas In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s backing off of his threats to open a trade war with Canada and Mexico, the American Craft Spirits Association and the Kentucky Distillers Association both released statements expressing their concern over any retaliatory tariffs that would be placed on their products and their relief …
By Richard Thomas Brown-Forman is one of the major players in American spirits. Founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown and originator of the brand Old Forester, the Louisville-based company is technically publicly traded, but in practical reality is family owned, with a majority of shares still held by Brown’s descendants. The company also owns …
Four leading spirits companies and the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) are joining forces with Precision Conservation Management (PCM) and the Kentucky Corn Growers Association (KCGA) to launch a five-year, $2.8 million initiative for Kentucky corn farmers. Together, Kentucky distillers are providing tools for corn farmers to successfully implement proven practices that will support the long-term …
