Welcome to our Happy Hour Question & Answer series, where we ask questions to interesting people in the alcohol world.

This week’s spotlight is on RD1 Spirits and their CEO Mike Tetterton and his son, VP of Marketing, Chris Tetterton. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, RD1 Spirits explores the bourbon frontier with its various wood finishings in the barrel. Lexington entrepreneurs founded the company in 2020 to help give life to the stories of Lexington’s bourbon firsts, namely its first federally registered distillery, established in 1865. For more information on this growing brand, visit RD1spirits.com

Hops & Spirits: How is it working with your father/your son?
Chris Tetterton: We’ve been working together for about ten years now. I don’t think it’s for everyone, but when you work with your father, you’re able to be extremely honest. We know that we are both working for each other and for our family. There’s a different level of trust and learning. As the son, there is also a great level of responsibility that you want to continue your father’s success and make him and your family proud.

Mike Tetterton: We respect boundaries. When we’re working, we’re all work. When we’re not working, we’re all family.

HS: Where does the entrepreneurial spirit for you both come from?
Chris: For me, growing up in a family where we started and created businesses, it kind of became second nature. We both really like trying to do things that others aren’t, won’t or can’t. We also love learning about new industries and how we can bring our business philosophy and work ethic to new companies.

Mike: I was raised with the mentality of owning your own destiny and working hard for what you need and want. And I’ve always enjoyed building, creating…thinking of something that hasn’t been done before or that I could do better. That energy has always just felt natural to me.

HS: How did you all decide on getting into bourbon?
Mike: While most of our entrepreneurial ventures of the past have been focused in the hospitality industry, we’re Lexington folks, so bourbon was always something we’ve talked about. A small group of investors – including Mark Stoops – have been the base support and energy to help grow this business, which started in 2020.

HS: What’s it been like launching a new company?
Mike: A lot of hard work. A lot to learn. And a lot of fun! Starting businesses is very familiar to us and building it is what we most enjoy. We’ve surrounded ourselves with a strong team with decades of spirits experience. We are learning daily!

Chris: I agree. Learning the federal regulations and state laws are interesting. Mike has taught me a tremendous amount about asking the right questions to always learn more from those around you.

HS: Y’all recently switched from the WM Tarr to RD1 lineup, why was that?
Chris: William Tarr was our brand’s first offering and was a limited release. As a brand that exists to help keep the story alive of Lexington’s first registered distillery, we wanted to launch with a product named for one the bourbon giants here that started it all. We are now bridging to the future with the launch of our anchor portfolio under the brand RD1.

Mike: Clearly, we are doing some things a little differently than those entrepreneurs of the late 1800s, but they were the ones who opened doors for us today. History is important. 

HS: I know with the new lineup, different wood finishes are a big thing for y’all, why is that?Mike: We are fascinated with bourbon’s interaction with wood. Our portfolio is made up of four expressions – each has the exact same Kentucky Straight Bourbon mashbill as the base. The only thing that changes is the type of wood we add to the barrel for additional months of aging. Tasting through a flight of our core four is like the perfect science experiment. You really can explore your palate and have fun with finding unique flavors.

Chris: There’s something for everyone to enjoy. It’s a learning experience and conversation too, which is what bourbon should be.

HS: How did y’all decide on the name RD1 and why?
Mike: Before prohibition and DSP numbers that we are more familiar with today, the government issued Registered Distillery numbers. After the Civil War, the government needed to raise revenue and one way they did that was by making all distilleries register themselves, thereby increasing tax. Kentucky was broken up into several districts, and Lexington was one of those. William Tarr was one of the leaders of the Ashland Distillery in Lexington, which was given the government designation as “federal registered distillery 1.” Ashland didn’t go by this in any branding. When we were thinking about starting a Lexington-based brand, we knew that we wanted to honor those who have made it possible for us to even think about a bourbon brand today. And that goes back to 1865.

Chris: Our goal is to help keep this historical story alive and to help write the next chapter in the book of Kentucky bourbon. 

HS: Y’all will be hosting a Father’s Day tasting together this coming weekend, what will that be like?
Chris: We are inviting adult children and their fathers to join both of us for a unique tasting and sensory experience of the RD1 bourbon portfolio at the RD1 Tasting Room and Gift Shop in Lexington’s Distillery District. We’ll share stories of bourbon and family, and make some smoked Old Fashioneds at a bar. We promise an experience for Father’s Day that all with enjoy.

Mike: What can be better than the gift of time with your children? I’m looking forward to it, and I guess for this one, we are really mixing work and family. But we’ll take it!

HS: What’s next for y’all and RD1?
Mike: The brand started in 2020, and up until this year, we were only available in Kentucky. Now, we are focused on market expansion. We’re now available in Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Missouri, and expect to be in almost 15 states by year end. We really want to share Lexington, Kentucky, and our love for our city with the rest of the country.

Chris: Beyond state expansion, we’re continuing to experiment with unique wood finishes for future releases or limited offerings. Sometimes these experimental barrels are available for consumers to taste in our Tasting Room and Gift Shop.