News

May 2023

Bluegrass Distillers Whisky Advocate 2023 Summer Issue Scores

We are happy to announce that two of our products have been featured in the Summer 2023 issue of Whisky Advocate. We are grateful for your support and wanted to keep you informed.

Our Bluegrass Distillers Elkwood Reserve 9 year old Single Barrel scored an impressive 91 in the Whisky Advocate Ratings. It's currently only available at our gift shop, but we're looking into wider distribution in the future. 

Additionally, our Midway Distilling Company Lee's Branch Finished Rye Whiskey earned 90 points in the Summer 2023 issue.

Links to both product reviews can be found here:

https://whiskyadvocate.com/Bluegrass-Distillers-Elkwood-Reserve-9-year-old-Single-Barrel-54

https://whiskyadvocate.com/Midway-Distilling-Lee-s-Branch-5-year-old-Toasted-French-Oak-Finished-Batch-4-55

May 2022

Bluegrass Distillers Single Barrel KY Straight Blue Corn Bourbon Wins Double Platinum in 2022 ASCOT Awards Taste Competition

The ASCOT Awards honors distillers and marketers whose work is truly exceptional and deserving of recognition. The awards are divided into Marketing + Design and Taste Competitions.

In the Taste Competition, entries were blind-tested and graded on a series of criteria including appearance, aroma, taste, and finish. Awards were determined based on the points explained below.

AWARD LEVELS:

Double Platinum: Outstanding; earns top marks from all judges

Platinum: An excellent product; meets very high standards

Gold: A finely crafted spirit deserving recognition

Honorable Mention: Meets the standards of the industry

Our Single Barrel KY Straight Blue Corn Bourbon won Double Platinum in the Category “Whiskies/Whiskeys Single Barrel Bourbon-Up To 10 Years".”

December 3, 2021

Bluegrass Distillers Announces New Line of Experimental Rye Whiskeys

MIDWAY, Kentucky - Bluegrass Distillers, a craft distillery in Lexington, announced last year they will be relocating their production, operations, and tasting room to Midway, KY. Demand has grown for Bluegrass Distillers’ core line of products, and they now announce a new line of whiskeys under a new brand and label, Midway Distilling Co. 

Bluegrass Distillers co-owner Ben Franzini said, “We are so excited to introduce Midway Distilling Co. to complement our core Bluegrass Distillers line of premium Kentucky Bourbons. We hope you enjoy these experimental rye whiskeys as much as we have enjoyed creating them this past year. They are complex and delicious. This new brand allowed us to explore new and exciting flavor profiles and tell stories of the rich history of Bluegrass Distillers’ new home, Midway, Kentucky.”

The original Midway Distilling Company was founded prior to Prohibition in 1916 and was sold as medicinal whiskey until 1924, when the entire plant and remaining inventory were destroyed by fire. Midway Distilling Company operated on the Northeast corner of Dudley & Gratz Streets in Midway, KY moving into the space previously occupied by the Belle of Anderson Distillery. 

The first batch of Midway Distilling Company products include Rye Whiskeys with secondary finishes including Rum Barrels, Sauternes Barrels, Vermouth Barrels, Toasted French Oak, and Recharred Oak. They will be distributed in Kentucky beginning mid-December. Select products are now available at Bluegrass Distillers. Visit midwaydistilling.com for more information.

You can keep up with all things Midway Distilling on our social media pages: 

Website www.midwaydistilling.com

Facebook @MidwayDistillingCo

Instagram @midwaydistilling

August 31, 2021

Bluegrass Distillers Announces First Blue Corn Bottled-in-Bond

LEXINGTON, Kentucky -Bluegrass Distillers, a craft distillery in Lexington, will be releasing the first ever Kentucky Blue Corn Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. Bluegrass is the only Kentucky distillery that produces a wheated bourbon with 100% blue corn.  The non-GMO corn is grown in Central Kentucky with the help of local farmers. The higher sugar content of the blue corn lends a subtle butterscotch sweetness to the nose and earthy, pecan notes on the palette. 

This small batch offering of just four 53 gallon barrels meets the strict requirements to be labeled bottled-in-bond: product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. Aged 4.5 years with a mash bill of 75% blue corn, 21% wheat, and 4% malted barley, this batch 001 release  has tasting notes of caramel custard with hints of tobacco and anise spice.

“The blue corn bourbon started in 2016 in a crock pot as an experiment with a group of chemical engineering students. We released our first blue corn bourbon on September 2, 2017. Four years later our team is bringing you what we believe is the first Kentucky blue corn Bottled in Bond ever released.” said Sam Rock, co-founder and owner of Bluegrass Distillers “ It’s a bourbon landmark, and it wouldn’t have happened without the dedication of our team.  I’m loathe to brag, but I can brag about this bourbon.  It’s good.  It is what we hoped it would be. This first batch is a Kentucky and online only limited release, so we hope you get an opportunity to pick up a  bottle. We thank you for all your support over the years.” 

Bottles will first be released at Bluegrass Distillers beginning Friday, September 3rd at 9 am. Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn Bottled-in-Bond will be available through distribution in Kentucky and online through Bourbon Outfitter in the coming weeks in 750ml bottles for a suggested retail price of $60.00. 

Bluegrass is undergoing a major expansion at the Historic Elkwood Farm in Midway, KY where they will relocate with an expanded distillery, barrel warehouses, tasting room and visitor center in 2022. Bluegrass is currently growing 25 acres of blue corn, or roughly 500 barrels, in Woodford County, Kentucky.

For more information on Bluegrass Distillers and its products, visit www.bluegrassdistillers.com. Please contact Bluegrass Distillers via email at info@bluegrassdistillers.com for any questions.

DECEMBER 15, 2020

Bluegrass Distillers Announces Major Expansion in Midway, KY 

LEXINGTON, Kentucky - Bluegrass Distillers, a craft distillery in Lexington, has announced the purchase of Elkwood Farm in Midway, KY. The Elkwood, listed on the National Historic Register, was built in 1835. The property is located at 158 Leestown Rd., Midway, KY, off the Midway exit of US Highway 64. The new location will include an expanded distillery, barrel warehouses, tasting room, visitor center, and event space. The distillery is owned by Sam Rock, Nathan Brown, and Ben Franzini of Lexington.

The development plan includes a tasting room in the historic Elkwood Mansion. The production facilities are designed to facilitate contract distilling and a bottling operation. The company’s production capacity will increase from a little less than 1 barrel a day to approximately 20 barrels per 8 hour shift. The grounds will also have space for barrel storage.

The project will highlight grain to glass bourbon production. The company will grow approximately 40-45 acres of blue and yellow corn on the property.

According to Woodford County native Sam Rock, “We are thrilled to be moving our operations to Elkwood Farm in Midway, KY. We have been looking in Midway for over 3 years, and at this particular location for most of that time. So it was the date we always wanted. The layout of the farm and the history of the structures make for a perfect venue to demonstrate grain to glass bourbon production. We can now grow blue corn on our own land, and will have spent grains for local farmers.”

Following construction and renovations, distilling operations will begin and the grounds will open for visitor tours as well as family-friendly, community events and concerts in the summer of 2021.

Franzini added, “Midway has a rich distilling tradition and the town has been extremely gracious and welcoming. The Midway Mayor and Economic Development Authority have been with us every step of the way and we could not have pulled it together without their help. We could not ask for a better location or town to build our future.”

Bluegrass Distillers started from scratch mashing each ounce of grain by hand, and opened its doors on West 6th Street in Lexington, KY in 2013 at its current distillery in the Bread Box building. The Distillery is community-focused, and gives back through their Philanthropy Barrel Program. In 2020, the company raised and donated over $45,000 to local nonprofits through the Philanthropy Barrel Program.

Articles:

https://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/bluegrass-distillers-announces-3-1-million-expansion-move-to-historic-woodford-county-farm/

Events

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