KDA Welcomes New Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Manager

KENTUCKY DISTILLERS’ ASSOCIATION WELCOMES
NEW KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL® MANAGER

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced that Adam Johnson has joined the group as the first-ever Manager of the KDA’s famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experience.

Johnson, 36, has been Executive Director of the Danville/Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau since 2006. He previously was Assistant Director of Annual Giving for Centre College in Danville, where he graduated in 1997.

“We’ve been impressed with Adam’s ability to work across county lines and create tourism strategies that benefit his community and all of Kentucky,” said KDA President Eric Gregory. “He is well-respected and has a passion for our signature Bourbon industry. It’s a perfect fit.”

Johnson has elevated Danville’s tourism presence by utilizing social media to increase awareness, and he has created numerous events like Oktoberfest and “Bourbon and Brass” to attract visitors and generate community support.

“Danville doesn’t have a distillery in its back yard, but we’ve been able to leverage the popularity of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail program to significantly grow tourism traffic,” Johnson said.

“That’s a big part of my vision for my new role — to be a resource for communities and the hospitality industry as we build the Kentucky Bourbon Trail adventure into a world-class attraction.”

A native of West Point, N.Y., Johnson will continue to reside in Danville with his wife, Krista Rinehart, and their daughter, Campbell.

As Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Manager, Johnson will be charged with strengthening partnerships among the Bourbon and tourism industries; working with member distilleries to responsibly manage tourism growth and solidifying Kentucky as the authentic home for Bourbon.

“More people than ever are visiting the Bluegrass because of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour, so we needed someone dedicated solely to promoting Bourbon tourism,” Gregory said. “It’s a great job and a historic industry, and we’re excited to welcome Adam to the team.”

Created by the KDA in 1999, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour features six distilleries, each offering a unique and educational experience on crafting the world’s finest Bourbon: Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve.

Kentucky Bourbon Trail® distilleries recorded more than 450,000 visits in 2011, and the Passport program — which rewards visitors who tour all six stops — shattered its previous record with 11,757 completions. Visitors came from all 50 states and 16 countries, the KDA reported.

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 Inc. (Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark), Brown-Forman Corp., Diageo North America, Four Roses, Heaven Hill and Wild Turkey. Craft members include Alltech, Barrel House Distilling and MB Roland Distillery.

Visit online at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

Johnson can be reached at [email protected].

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For more information, contact KDA President Eric Gregory at (502) 875-9351.

Please drink responsibly and never drink and drive.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® is a registered trademark of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.