“It is an honor to stand here today to celebrate the grand opening of RD1 Distillery at the Commons, a landmark moment for Lexington, Kentucky, and our world-renowned bourbon industry,” Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers Association, said. He added that RD1 Spirit's new home is more than a distillery; it's a destination.
“With 2,700,000 visitors last year alone, RD1 strengthens our state's position as the global capital of bourbon tourism, Gregory said. “And it's a reminder that bourbon isn't just a drink. It's an economic engine. That engine equates to roughly $9 billion annually in tourism dollars to Kentucky, which has an economic impact on Lexington of 1.6 billion.
According to Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, of the 2.7 million visitors to the state's Bourbon Trail in 2024, 7.5% made stops in Fayette County.
Registered Distillery One CEO Mike Tetterton envisions that number rising with their addition to the Bourbon Trail.
“When you come into our facility, you can taste and try what we're doing under R&D,” Tetterton said. “For example, we have right now about nine different bourbons that we are finishing in different woods across the across the world actually, and you can taste those as they are finishing.”
The distillery is located at The Commons, a 42-acre mixed-use destination off Main Street that's still being developed less than a mile from Downtown Lexington.