Top 41 Kentuckian Alcoholic Beverages

Buffalo Trace Distillery, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, is celebrated as the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States, with a rich history of over 200 years. Founded by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. and later expanded under George T. Stagg, the distillery has survived challenges such as floods, fires, and Prohibition, during which it produced whiskey for medicinal purposes. Today, it is known for its wide range of highly acclaimed bourbons and whiskeys, including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, and the Pappy Van Winkle line. Buffalo Trace has garnered numerous awards, emphasizing its commitment to quality and innovation in whiskey production. Expand

Heaven Hill Distillery, founded in 1935, is one of the largest independent, family-owned distilleries in the United States. Located in Bardstown, Kentucky, it is renowned for producing some of the most iconic American whiskeys, including Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, and Larceny. The distillery boasts a rich heritage in crafting premium bourbons and other spirits, blending tradition with innovation. Heaven Hill is also home to one of the largest inventories of aging whiskey in the world, reflecting its commitment to quality and authenticity.Expand

1792 Bourbon is crafted at the historic Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Known for its robust and full-bodied flavors, 1792 Bourbon offers various limited-edition expressions, blending traditional techniques with innovative aging methods. Recognized for its quality, it has won awards, including the prestigious title of "World Whisky of the Year" in 2020.Expand

Sazerac Company is one of the oldest privately held distilleries in the United States, founded in the 1850s. The company's headquarters are located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and it is renowned for its wide range of alcoholic beverages, including whiskey, bourbon, rum, vodka, gin, and liqueurs. The company takes its name from the Sazerac cocktail, which is considered to be the first cocktail ever created in the United States.Expand

15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon celebrates Kentucky's heritage as the 15th U.S. state and honors traditional distilling with innovative aging techniques. The distillery sources fine aged bourbons, blending unique mash bills and proprietary grains like heirloom black corn. Their craftsmanship combines early Kentucky artisanship with modern quality standards, creating award-winning bourbons with rich, complex flavors and historical significance.Expand

Angel's Envy is a premium bourbon brand crafted by the Louisville Distilling Company, part of Bacardi Limited. Known for its unique finishing process in port and rum barrels, Angel's Envy produces Kentucky straight bourbon and rye whiskeys with a rich, layered flavor. The distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, combines traditional bourbon craftsmanship with innovative aging techniques, offering a range of limited editions and private barrel selections.Expand

Heaven's Door is a brand of handcrafted American whiskeys co-created with Bob Dylan, embodying his passion and artistic spirit. Each bottle showcases distinctive welded iron gates personally crafted by Dylan at his Black Buffalo Ironworks studio. The Heaven's Door collection includes a variety of whiskey styles, such as Bourbon, Rye, and exclusive limited editions like the Bootleg Series, adorned with Dylan's artwork.Expand

Barrell Craft Spirits, founded in 2013 and based in Louisville, Kentucky, is a renowned independent blender specializing in unique, aged, cask-strength whiskeys and rums. The company sources high-quality spirits from various distilleries, meticulously blending them to create distinctive flavor profiles. Their commitment to innovation and quality has earned them numerous awards from prestigious spirits publications and competitions. Barrell Craft Spirits offers a diverse range of products, including small-batch and single-barrel releases, as well as ongoing series like Seagrass, Dovetail, and Vantage. Their dedication to transparency and craftsmanship has solidified their reputation as a leading force in the American whiskey industry.Expand

Blanton's is a renowned bourbon producer with a rich history dating back to 1897. It is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, with Colonel Albert Bacon Blanton playing a key role in its success. Today, Blanton's is recognized for the high quality of its products and its collectible bottle stoppers featuring horses and jockeys, paying tribute to Kentucky's horse racing tradition.Expand

Mint Julep is a cocktail that originated in the 18th century in Kentucky, and it is widely consumed throughout the American South. It contains bourbon, sugar syrup, water, crushed ice, and fresh mint leaves (usually spearmint). In the 18th century, Mint Julep was originally prescribed for stomach-aches, while bourbon was sometimes replaced with aged gin. However, since 1938, it is associated with the Kentucky Derby as an official drink. The drink is prepared by muddling fresh mint with sugar and crushed ice until the mint releases its essential oils, and the cocktail is then topped with bourbon and water. Although it was traditionally served in a silver cup in the past, nowadays it is commonly served in a tall glass (collins or highball) with a straw.Expand

As the name suggests, Old-Fashioned is a very old cocktail made with bourbon or whiskey, fine sugar or a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, Maraschino cherries, orange slices, and a splash of club soda or water. The cocktail is prepared by muddling the bitters, sugar, cherries, an orange slice, and soda or water in an old-fashioned glass. After the fruit husks are removed, bourbon and ice are added to the combination, and the whole thing is stirred, then garnished with a cherry and an orange slice. It is believed that the first Old-Fashioned was created at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, when it was made with whiskey, bitters, water, ice, and a sugar cube. The cocktail was then garnished with a lemon peel, while fresh fruit was not used at all. The addition of muddled fruit came in the 20th century, and the cocktail is now a traditional pre-dinner beverage served for Thanksgiving and Christmas in numerous American households.Expand

Bourbon is an American whiskey that is primarily made from corn mash, the minimum requirement is 51%, while other options may include rye, barley, or wheat. Although most production is located in Kentucky, bourbon can technically be made anywhere in the United States. The whiskey is almost always aged, and the process must take place in new charred oak casks, but the regulations do not specify the minimum aging period. If it is labeled as straight bourbon, it indicates that the whiskey has been aged for at least two years, and all bourbon whiskey must be bottled at the minimum of 40% ABV. Other bourbon-related definitions include small batch (a blend from a special selection of barrels) and single barrel (bourbon from one barrel). Most bourbon varieties are smooth and subtly sweet with typical caramel, spicy, and vanilla notes, though the exact aromatic profile often depends on the choice of mash and age. Bourbon can be served neat, on the rocks, or mixed with water, but it is also an important cocktail ingredient in classics such as Whiskey Sour, Old-Fashioned, Manhattan, and John Collins. It is believed that Scottish and Irish settlers brought the tradition of distilling whiskey to Kentucky sometime in the 18th century.Expand

This pomegranate-flavored liqueur was first manufactured in 2006. Although it does not pride in rich and long history, the liqueur soon gained recognition for its versatility and a complex taste profile. It is produced from natural pomegranate juice, premium vodka, and a small amount of imported tequila. Pama is praised for its berry aroma and a unique combination of sweet and tart flavors. Although it can be enjoyed on its own, preferably on the rocks with a lemon twist, it also pairs exceptionally well with bubbly drinks such as ginger ale, tonic water, sparkling wines, and Champagne.Expand

Old Charter is a type of bourbon produced in Frankfort, Kentucky, at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, which is now owned by Sazerac. This bourbon is not overpowering, and it usually displays light peppery and vanilla notes, along with hints of caramel, vanilla, and oak. It has a long tradition, dating back to 1874 when Adam and Ben Chapeze first produced it near Bardstown, Kentucky. After prohibition, the Charter brand was acquired by Bernheim, and the production was continued in Louisville, Kentucky. The brand was later owned by Schenley Distilleries, and in 1999, the Old Charter was purchased by Sazerac from Diageo. Old Charter was initially sold as an 8-year-old bourbon. Since 2014, the label did not include the age statement, and it was rebranded as Old Charter 8. This bourbon can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks, but it can be incorporated into cocktails.Expand

Seelbach is a bourbon-based cocktail that also includes orange liqueur (Cointreau), two types of bitters (Angostura and Peychaud's), and Champagne. To prepare the drink, all the ingredients apart from Champagne are mixed with ice. The combination is then poured in a chilled flute and topped with Champagne. Seelbach was invented by Adam Seger, who used to work at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville. Interestingly, for a very long time, it was mistakenly believed that the cocktail was a pre-Prohibition drink that Seger reintroduced. Seger created the well-known myth, probably thinking it would add to the appeal. The drink became the signature cocktail at the Seelbach. This cocktail is traditionally served in a flute glass, though sometimes a coupe glass can be used instead. It is usually garnished with a lemon twist. Expand

Kentucky Common is one of the few beer styles native to the United States. The style originated in Louisville, Kentucky, and it first appeared in the mid-1800s with the influx of Irish and German immigrants who were familiar with brewing techniques. They adapted brewing techniques with available ingredients—the mash was predominantly malt with an addition of corn. The result was a light, thirst-quenching beer with a relatively low alcohol content that was mostly enjoyed by the laboring class due to its low price. The style was quite prominent until 1919 and the Prohibition era. Following Prohibition, Kentucky Common completely disappeared and was no longer produced. However, during the craft beer movement, the style has been brought back from obscurity. Modern Kentucky Common is usually light-amber in color, while the flavor is malty and subtly sweet, with just hints of caramel and bready notes. Using corn in the mash bill provides a subtle sweetness and gives Kentucky Common its distinct light character. This historical beer style is nowadays usually available at microbreweries. Kentucky Common would pair well with spicy dishes and grilled meat. Expand