401 Cross St., Lexington, KY 40508
kentuckyale.com, 859-255-2337
PRODUCTS: Town Branch Bourbon, Pearse Lyons Reserve, Town Branch Rye, Bluegrass Sundown (bourbon-infused coffee liqueur)
Town Branch, located in downtown Lexington and named for a creek that runs beneath the city, is the only stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail where you can sample both craft beer—including the award-winning Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale—and bourbon. In 1999, Irish entrepreneur Dr. Pearse Lyons, the founder and president of Alltech, a global animal health and nutrition company based in Lexington, acquired the 200-year-old Lexington Brewing Co. He broke ground on Town Branch Distillery in the fall of 2011 and it joined the Trail in 2012.
Tours begin with the brewing operation (and samples) and end with bourbon tastings in the light-filled room of the Kentucky limestone distillery building that houses its two copper pot stills, imported from Scotland. At 80 proof, Town Branch Bourbon is a little on the light side; if the cask strength is available, go for that. Town Branch Rye is also nice.
