Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.
Overview of the Distillery
Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. combines a revived brewery and a modern distillery in the heart of Lexington. As the only place on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail that both brews and distills, the company blends family heritage, local Town Branch water, and an active approach to barrel-aging and blending.
History
The history begins with local breweries in the 1890s that disappeared during Prohibition. In 1999 Pearse Lyons revived Lexington Brewing Co. by restoring an old brewery building. In 2006, the company experimented with filling fresh bourbon barrels with beer, producing Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale®. Two copper pot stills were ordered from Scotland in 2008 as part of a plan to distill, and in September 2012 Town Branch Distillery opened as the first new distillery built in Lexington in more than 100 years. Mark Lyons carries the family tradition forward today.
Raw Materials and Production
The company houses both brewing and distilling operations at the same address. Distillation is carried out on two copper pot stills, installed as part of the distillery's startup. The portfolio includes bourbon, rye, and a single malt, indicating the use of corn, rye, and malted barley. The water source is Town Branch Creek, historically linked to local distilleries and fed by limestone-rich springs. On the brewing side, the use of bourbon barrels for barrel-aging is central, and the distillery runs a single-barrel program and works actively on blending and product development.
Maturation and Cask Types
Maturation is based on the consistent use of bourbon casks, both for barrel-aged beer and as part of spirit maturation. The distillery offers special editions with sherry finishes and conducts cask experiments through its single-barrel program, enabling individual cask choices and private finishes.
Whiskies
The core selection consists of the Town Branch line with bourbon, malt, and rye, as well as special editions such as Sherry Cask Finished. The range has been expanded with seasonal products, gin, and ready-to-serve cocktail products, and the company continually works with single-barrel releases and other special editions.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Cask and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town Branch® Bourbon | Bourbon | Town Branch's bourbon release, a core product line in the distillery's spirits portfolio. | Current; Core range | |
| Town Branch® Malt | Single Malt | Single malt launched at the opening of Town Branch Distillery; marks the return of malt whisky to Lexington. | Current; Core range | |
| Town Branch® Rye | Rye | Rye edition in Town Branch's core portfolio. | Current; Core range | |
| Town Branch® Sherry Cask Finished | Sherry Cask Finish | Special edition with sherry finish as an example of the distillery's cask experiments. | Current |
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery and brewery offer guided tours and are part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail experience. For tour information, a dedicated phone number and an email address are available. The tours include both the brewery and distillery facilities and tie the visit to the site’s history and products.
Philosophy and Craft
The company is family-owned and rooted in a heritage of Irish brewing and coopering craft. There is a stated commitment to using quality ingredients and working toward a more sustainable future, while prioritizing blending, cask selection, and product innovation.
Sustainability
Emphasis on sustainability as part of the company's future focus.
Awards and Recognitions
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Listed in VinePair: 30 Best Bourbons
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Listed in Liquor.com: The 12 Best Kentucky Bourbons to Drink
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Comment in Whisky Advocate on the overproof cocktail focus
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Fred Minnick: Blending advancements mentioned