RD1 Spirits announced the grand opening of its new brand destination, RD1 Distillery at The Commons, now open to the public just minutes outside downtown Lexington, Ky.
The research and development distillery is designed to engage bourbon lovers and curious travelers with sensory-driven whiskey experiences and wood-finished science experiments. The $5 million, newly constructed visitors attraction is expected to welcome up to 30,000 guests annually.
“This is more than just a distillery. It’s a prime example of the type of opportunity bourbon tourism can offer communities across the Commonwealth,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “This is a tremendous addition to Lexington and our state’s bourbon industry, which continues to innovate and grow.”
Located at The Commons, a dynamic 42-acre mixed-use development, RD1 Distillery at the Commons is 10,215 square feet, almost three times the size of its former Tasting Room and Gift Shop.
“We’re incredibly proud to open the doors of our beautiful, new home and invite guests into our world of wood-finished bourbon,” said Mike Tetterton, CEO of RD1 Spirits. “As we listened to our fans and their captivating interest around how we test unique woods from throughout the world, we reimagined our original distillery plans to ultimately give guests an experience like no other on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.”
A visually striking, 240-barrel rick. visible from inside and outside the building, frames the venue, while the lobby’s centerpiece, a handcrafted, 10-foot-tall oak tree, ascends into a glowing circular light fixture. The design gives artistic nods to Lexington’s four-plank horse farm fencing and bourbon’s strong connection to nature.
While RD1 continues to produce its award-winning Kentucky Straight Bourbon at Western Kentucky Distilling in Beaver Dam, Ky, the new destination features an R&D distillery for ongoing experimentation. Equipment includes a 50-gallon fermenter, a custom hybrid pot still with column, and an 800-gallon pot still to potentially use in the future for larger test runs. Led by RD1’s R&D Master Distiller, Jarrad Gollihue, PhD, the on-site distillery will test upwards of 50 unique wood finishes annually.
RD1 Spirits offers à-la-carte tours, tastings, and experiences. Before scheduled experiences begin, guests can enjoy a self-guided tour of the RD1 lobby to learn more about Lexington’s first federally registered distillery, and preview some of the cocktails available upstairs at the bar. One of the most unique stops on the tour is the “RD1 Forest,” an indoor experiential zone where guests walk among the trees while learning about forestry science, wood chemistry, the unique trees in RD1’s portfolio and current finishing experiments.
For private groups, the upstairs speakeasy — tucked behind a hidden door showcasing a wall of “first” pioneers — offers a cozy, barrel-backed lounge and large screens perfect for game day, celebrations or exclusive tastings.
Additional highlights include: two private tasting rooms that can be combined into one, with seating for up to 36; a bourbon bar with seating for 26; a wrap-around patio with seating for up to 36, overlooking the future concert venue and greenspace of The Commons and a gift shop with limited releases and other unique merchandise.
