Distillers, Lyft Looking For Safe Ride Drivers

Public invited to breakfast sessions to learn about opportunities to fight drunk driving and earn money in Kentucky Bourbon Trail® cities

For immediate release – July 10, 2017

FRANKFORT, Ky – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association and Lyft are hosting breakfast sessions in Bardstown and Versailles this month to educate and recruit safe ride drivers in local Kentucky Bourbon Trail® communities.

The effort is part of the KDA’s commitment to prevent drunk driving by promoting safe rides.

In March, the KDA and Lyft announced a partnership to expand Lyft’s on-demand ride service to KBT® communities so people could use the app to order a ride in minutes. However, wait times can be high as drivers from the Louisville and Lexington areas service the requests.

Heaven Hill and Woodford Reserve distilleries are hosting breakfast sessions so local drivers can learn more about Lyft and how to earn money – potentially up to $35 an hour, said Ali Edelstein, KDA’s Director of Social Responsibility.

“Woodford Reserve is pleased to partner with Lyft and the KDA as they seek more drivers to provide safe rides to and from our distillery,” said Catherine Delaney, Visitor Experience Manager. “Reducing wait times for on-demand ride services on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is an important part of our commitment to promote responsible drinking.”

The Versailles session at Woodford Reserve will be Monday, July 24, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. EST.

“Safety of our visitors and the surrounding communities are a top priority as we expand opportunities to experience the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour,” said Jeff Crowe, Heaven Hill General Manager of Visitor Experiences. “A partnership with Lyft ensures safe ride options for all visitors to enjoy their experience responsibly.”

The Bardstown session at Heaven Hill will be Thursday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. EST.

Lyft Ambassadors and KDA representatives will be on-hand to discuss the opportunity at both events. Guests will receive free breakfast, distillery tour vouchers and chances to win rewards from Lyft.

Participants must be at least 21 years old to attend. Seats are limited, so RSVPs are required by emailing Edelstein at [email protected].

Locals who are ready to drive may apply online at www.lyft.com/drivers/KYDISTILLERS and be eligible for a $350 bonus.

The famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® experiences reached more than 1 million visits in 2016, with more than 70 percent of visitors coming from out of state.

“Lyft operates in more than 300 cities,” said Chris Kaltreider, the operations specialist at Lyft who helped establish the partnership. “Expanding its presence in Kentucky offers out-of-town guests a safe ride option they may already know.”

KDA’s partnership with Lyft complements existing safe ride alternatives with official transportation sponsors such as Mint Julep Tours, R & R Limo and Central Kentucky Tours, KDA President Eric Gregory said.

“The KDA is proud to work with these responsible companies and the Kentucky’s Office of Highway Safety to combat impaired driving,” he said. “Visitors have too many good safe-ride choices not to make the right one.”

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For more information, contact Ali Edelstein at (502) 424-5841.

The KDA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1880 to promote, protect and elevate Kentucky’s signature

Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Heritage members include Beam Suntory (Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark),

Brown-Forman Corp. (Old Forester and Woodford Reserve), Diageo North America, Four Roses Distillery, Heaven Hill Brands, Michter’s Distillery and Wild Turkey Distillery. Proof members include the Louisville Distilling Company and Willett Distillery.

Craft members include Alltech’s Town Branch Distillery, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Barrel House Distilling Co., Bluegrass Distillers, Boone County Distilling Company, Boundary Oak Distillery, Casey Jones Distillery, Copper & Kings American Brandy Distillery, Corsair Artisan Distillery, Dueling Grounds Distillery, Hartfield & Co. Distillery, Jeptha Creed Distillery, Kentucky Artisan Distillery, Kentucky Mist Moonshine, Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Limestone Branch Distillery, MB Roland Distillery, New Riff Distillery, The Old Pogue Distillery, O.Z. Tyler Distillery, Second Sight Spirits, Wadelyn Ranch Distillery and Wilderness Trail Distillery. The Distilled Spirits Epicenter is the KDA’s official educational distillery.

Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. 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. For more information about joining the KDA’s distilling family, contact KDA President Eric Gregory at (502) 875-9351. Visit www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com to learn more.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®, KENTUCKY BOURBON

AFFAIR™, KBT™ and BOURBON TRAIL™ are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. Please drink responsibly.