Kentucky’s bourbon scene continues to see new investment, tourism development and milestone celebrations, with several notable announcements making headlines recently.

Sazerac expands Kentucky footprint with Garrard County acquisition

Sazerac Company is continuing its investment in Kentucky’s bourbon industry with the acquisition of the Garrard County Distilling facility in Lancaster. The 210-acre facility, which opened in 2024, includes two column stills and two 20,000-square-foot barrel warehouses and will add production capacity to Sazerac’s growing Kentucky operations.

The facility joins Sazerac’s Kentucky network that includes Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown and The Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro. The company expects to hire additional employees as operations expand. Sazerac currently has nearly 3,000 employees across its Kentucky operations and has made significant investments throughout the state, including a recently completed $1.2 billion, 10-year expansion at Buffalo Trace.

Never Say Die bringing its transatlantic bourbon story to downtown Lexington

Never Say Die Bourbon is returning to its Kentucky roots with the opening of a new two-story brand home at 249 W. Short St. in downtown Lexington this fall.

The destination will combine an English-inspired pub, micro-distillery and immersive visitor experience centered around the brand’s unusual transatlantic aging process. Never Say Die bourbon is distilled and initially aged in Kentucky before barrels cross the Atlantic for additional maturation at White Peak Distillery in England.

The new location will feature live music, British pub fare, a tasting room and a barrel room designed after a Kentucky rickhouse. Visitors will also have the opportunity to bottle the brand’s forthcoming Double Ocean Bourbon, which will make two transatlantic journeys and be exclusive to the Lexington location. The brand home will initially also be the only place in the United States to purchase Never Say Die’s Barrel Strength Bourbon.

Jeptha Creed celebrates a decade with Rodney Atkins concert

Jeptha Creed Distillery is marking its 10th anniversary with a special edition of its Jammin’ at Jeptha concert series. The Shelbyville distillery will welcome multi-platinum country artist Rodney Atkins on Saturday, Oct. 10, as part of the celebration.

The event will highlight a decade of Jeptha Creed’s farm-to-glass approach, which centers on family farming, heirloom grains and Kentucky whiskeymaking. Guests will also have an opportunity to purchase a special 10th Anniversary Bourbon Release created for the milestone.

The celebration will also support Paws of War, a nonprofit serving veterans and first responders through companion animal programs. Jeptha Creed will make a donation to the organization funded in part by sales of the fourth batch of its Red, White & Blue Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.