Copper & Kings Craft Brandy Distillery Joins Kentucky Distillers’ Association

For Immediate Release — June 9, 2014

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today welcomed Copper & Kings American Brandy Company, the Commonwealth’s first and only exclusive brandy distillery, as the newest member of the non-profit trade group founded in 1880.

Copper & Kings is the KDA’s 20th member — the most since 1947.

Located on East Washington Street in Louisville’s Butchertown neighborhood, Copper & Kings is the brainchild of Joe and Lesley Heron, who came to Kentucky for a distilling class at the Distilled Spirits Epicenter and chose to make Louisville the home base for their newest venture.

“Copper & Kings is a perfect reminder that Kentucky is America’s home for all distilling and produces fantastic spirits in addition to the world’s greatest Bourbon,” said Joe Fraser, Chairman of the KDA Board of Directors.

“Joe and Lesley have a great entrepreneurial track record and we couldn’t be more thrilled with their passion and investment,” said Fraser, Vice President of Operations at Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.

“We wish them the best of luck and welcome them with open arms to our venerable Association
and distilling family.”

Joe Heron said the couple was looking for a new project after selling their successful Nutrisoda to PepsiAmericas and Crispin Cider to MillerCoors. “Our aspiration is to distill the pioneering adventurism and imagination of American music and art,” he said. “To let the creative vapor draw down to a uniquely American spirit.”

Copper & Kings is using traditional alembic copper pot-distillation in forging a full portfolio of brandy expressions in stills, custom designed by Vendome Copper & Brassworks, to maximize varietal nuance and flavor retention.

They will distill a vast array of brandy from un-aged and aged, grape to apple and maximize that variety with a novel aging collection that includes Bourbon, New American Oak, Port, Sherry, Cognac, Juniper barrels and Kentucky Hogsheads. These processes are utilized to showcase the diversity and creativity of brandy.

For traditional Bourbon connoisseurs, Heron said his brandy has familiar notes that Bourbon drinkers will recognize, but with a depth of character and flavor unique to brandy. He is aging brandy in one-use Bourbon barrels and — like Bourbon — does not include any added flavors (no added boise – oak flavor), sugar, mouthfeel chemicals or caramel color for an uncorrupted,
natural, authentic taste.

“We hope to attract Bourbon drinkers,” Heron said. “To offer them something deliciously familiar, but also something new and different to savor — feisty, rambunctious, with a long, smooth brandy finish.

“If all we do is positively add to the superlative distilling heritage of the state of Kentucky, we will be enormously proud.”

On joining the KDA, Heron said, “The KDA has supported and represented Copper & Kings practically, enthusiastically and without equivocation. We are proud to be part of the Association and to be members of the Kentucky distilling fraternity.”

Copper & Kings, 111 East Washington Street, expects to be open for tours later this year. For more information, visit their website at www.copperandkings.com.

Copper & Kings is the KDA’s 12th craft and 20th member, the most in nearly 70 years. “That speaks highly for the incredible growth and success of our industry and the ability of Kentucky to attract the next generation of world-class distilleries,” said KDA President Eric Gregory.

“Every distillery in Kentucky is unique, and Copper & Kings certainly is distinct in their fusion of rock and roll, art and great spirits,” Gregory said. “It’s a remarkable distillery and a landmark in Louisville’s revitalized Whiskey Row experience.

“We look forward to working with Copper & Kings and our members in securing the integrity of our signature distilled spirits industry and strengthening Kentucky’s rightful place as the distilling capital of America.”

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For more information, contact:

Eric Gregory, KDA President, (502) 875-9351
Joe Heron, Copper & Kings, (502) 561-0267

The KDA, a non-profit trade association founded in 1880, is the state’s foremost voice on spirits issues.
Members include Beam Suntory (Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark), Brown-Forman Corp., Diageo North
America, Four Roses Distillery, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., and Wild Turkey Distillery. Proof members
include Michter’s Distiller.

Craft distillery members include Alltech’s Town Branch Distillery, Barrel House Distilling Co., Copper
& Kings, Corsair Artisan Distillery, Kentucky Artisan Distillery, Limestone Branch Distillery, MB
Roland Distillery, New Riff Distillery, The Old Pogue Distillery, Silver Trail Distillery, Wilderness Trail
Distillery and The Willett Distillery. Educational members include the Distilled Spirits Epicenter.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® and Bourbon Trail™ are
trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. Go to www.kybourbon.com and
www.kybourbontrail.com for more information. Please drink responsibly.