The Bluegrass Region {Major Distilleries} BYOB (Course #254)

The “Bluegrass Region” is generally located in and around the City of Lexington, Kentucky. This region is known for being the oldest Bourbon making region in terms of having two very old distilleries. The Bluegrass Region incorporates the cities and towns of Frankfort, Kentucky; Lawrenceburg, Kentucky and Versailles, Kentucky in addition to Lexington. This region encompasses the area formerly known as “Bourbon County” before it was chopped up into 15 other counties within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

The “Bluegrass Region” includes four major, two medium and six craft distilleries within its radius. In Lexington itself is AllTech Distilling Company makes Town Branch and then Wilderness Trail is in Danville. Just 11 miles due east of Lexington in Versailles, Kentucky is the Major Bourbon Distillery of Woodford Reserve Distillery owned by beverage giant Brown-Forman.

The oldest continually operated Bourbon Distillery in the world is the Buffalo Trace Distillery which is located in Frankfort, Kentucky some 24 miles northwest of Lexington while two other Major Bourbon Distilleries are the Wild Turkey Distillery and the Four Roses Distillery both located in Lawrenceburg located 21 miles due west of Lexington. The two medium distilleries are Wilderness Trail and Town Branch.

There are also six small craft distilleries in and around Lexington that include: the James E. Peeper Distillery, Castle & Key Distillery, Glenn's Creek Distillery, Three Boys Farm Distillery, Barrel House Distillery, the Bluegrass Distillery, Hartsfield & Comp. and Kentucky Mist distilleries.

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There are twelve basic classes that make up the General University Requirements (G.U.R.’s). They are Whiskey 101; Bourbon 201; Tennessee Whiskey 202;

“Tenn-tucky” {the 5 Whiskey making Regions in the Mid-South States}; International Whiskys; “The Big 3”; The Bourbon Capital Region; The Bluegrass Region; The Whiskey Row Region; and Milestones in Bourbon History.

In order to qualify for the first level of recognition the student must take Bourbon 201 and any other 4 Tasting Classes. After completing these you earn a ”Certificate of Completion” in Basic Whiskey Studies and the title of ”Apprentice Bourbon Taster.”