Barrel House Distillery Joins KDA
BARREL HOUSE DISTILLERY JOINS
KENTUCKY DISTILLERS’ ASSOCIATION
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Barrel House Distilling Co., an innovative leader in Kentucky’s growing craft distillery industry, today announced that it has joined the legendary ranks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month than to add a pioneering new member to our association,” said KDA Board Chairman John Rhea, the Chief Operating Officer at Four Roses Distillery.
“We’re proud to welcome Barrel House to KDA, and we look forward to working with them to promote and protect our signature industry. Bourbon is surging worldwide in popularity, and our craft partners are an integral part of our future.”
The announcement was made at the historic Distillery District in downtown Lexington, where Barrel House opened in 2010 with brands including Pure Blue Vodka and Devil John Moonshine. A whiskey and special rum, to be aged in used Bourbon barrels, are currently in production.
Rhea and executives from KDA’s member distilleries presented Barrel House founders Jeff Wiseman and Peter Wright with a commemorative barrel head to celebrate their company’s induction.
“Barrel House Distillery was founded to bring back the tradition of distilling to Lexington and to distill hand-crafted spirits, including Bourbon,” Wiseman said. “Our inclusion in the KDA is major milestone for our company.”
Peter Wright said, “We are truly honored to join the ranks next to such esteemed members of the Bourbon industry. We greatly appreciate the opportunity, and hope — quite simply — to measure up.”
Barrel House becomes KDA’s eighth member and the second craft distillery to join this year.
The KDA, a non-profit group founded in 1880, is the state’s leading voice on spirits issues, from taxes to tourism, technical matters and more. Members include Beam Global Spirits & Wine (Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark), Brown-Forman Corp., Diageo North America, Four Roses, Heaven Hill and Wild Turkey.
Earlier this year, the group expanded its membership rolls to invite craft distilleries, with Lexington-based Alltech being the first to join.
KDA President Eric Gregory said the new craft membership is available to licensed Kentucky distillers that maintain an inventory of less than 25,000 barrels of distilled beverage spirits. There are more than 200 craft — or “micro distilleries” — in the country, including several in Kentucky.
“Our craft members bring a unique perspective on issues that affect our industry,” Gregory said. “We look forward to working with Barrel House to promote our proud heritage, to advocate fair treatment of our industry and to continue our commitment to responsible drinking.”
–30–
For more information, contact:
Eric Gregory, KDA President, at (502) 875-9351, mobile (859) 771-1050
Jeff Wiseman or Peter Wright, Barrel House, at (859) 259-0159, mobile (859) 221-1726
Visit online at:
www.kybourbon.com
www.barrelhousedistillery.com