Kentucky Distillers’ Association Welcomes Saddlestone Distillery as Newest Craft Member

For Immediate Release – October 11, 2021

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced that Saddlestone Distillery in Woodford County is the newest and 46^th member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

Founded by Cynthia Bohn, Saddlestone Distillery is the latest venture for Equus Run Vineyards which opened in 1998 and is nestled on 38 acres amid picturesque horse farms, historic stone fences and the quaint charm of Midway, Kentucky’s first town built by a railroad.  

The property at 1280 Moores Mill Road includes the winery and distillery, tasting room, offices, event barn/hall, vineyards and a beautiful amphitheater with live concerts. There are guided and self-guided tours and ample opportunities for picnics, fishing and relaxing. 

Saddlestone Distillery will produce brandy and agave spirits. It received its Class B distiller’s license from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in July. 

“We look forward to opening our new distillery to the public in the very near future and joining the membership of many wonderful spirits brands,” Bohn said. “The camaraderie and support of the KDA is to be commended.”

KDA President Eric Gregory said, “Cynthia has done an exceptional job establishing Equus Run as a first-class winery and popular destination for visitors. Her distilling venture is an excellent addition to the KDA, and we look forward to working with the Saddlestone team to champion Kentucky spirits.”

Learn more at https://www.equusrunvineyards.com/.

Saddlestone is the KDA’s 26^th Craft-level member, aging less than 10,000 barrels a year, and joins an impressive list of distilleries in Woodford County, including Woodford Reserve, Castle & Key, White Dog Trading & Storage and Bluegrass Distillers which is relocating to Midway from Lexington.

Saddlestone also is now eligible to apply to join the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®, which the association created in 2012 as the nation’s first and only tourism attraction to showcase the flourishing artisan distilling movement.

Founded in 1880, the KDA is the voice for Bourbon and spirits issues. Its diverse membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from legendary, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are building the next generation of the timeless craft.

Kentucky Bourbon is one of the Commonwealth’s most historic industries, a thriving $8.6 billion economic and tourism engine that generates more than 20,100 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1 billion each year, and accounts for over $300 million in local and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.

A key export, the iconic industry is currently in the middle of a $5.1 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism experiences to expanded production facilities, bottling centers and aging warehouses, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky Bourbon. 

Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 430% since the turn of the century. 

Kentucky now boasts more than 10.3 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.4 million barrels last year alone, the third year in a row that production topped the two million mark. 

Attendance at the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail^® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour^® distilleries has skyrocketed more than 300 percent in the last 10 years. Total attendance in 2019 was nearly two million, the most since KDA founded the tours in 1999 and 2012, respectively. 

Visit www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to learn more.

“On behalf of the KDA and its distinguished members, we are happy to welcome Saddlestone Distillery to our growing family of Kentucky’s finest distillers,” Gregory said. “We look forward to supporting their efforts and celebrating their success.”

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For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Eric Gregory at [email protected].

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that passionately unites, promotes, protects and elevates the Commonwealth’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. The KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. 

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL^®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR^®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT^®,, BOURBON TRAIL™, KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME^®,, ORDER OF THE WRIT^®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON TALES^®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL WELCOME CENTER^®,, URBAN BOURBON TRAIL^® and THE PROOF IS HERE^® are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. 

Please enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian – Responsibly