Lexington, Kentucky's RD1 Spirits is Getting a Modern New Home

Lexington’s new mixed-use development The Commons—situated on Main Street, under a mile from downtown—will be home to RD1 Spirits later this year. RD1 will be located at the entrance of the 40-acre site, a former tobacco factory, that will include homes, vacation rentals, shopping, dining, office space, a music venue, an adventure park, and a walking trail. The Commons will offer whiskey fans a couple of options for tours and tastings: Goodwood Spirits and Brewing will be RD1’s neighbor.

Planned to open in August of this year, RD1’s new facility will include an experimental distillery housing an 800-gallon and 175-gallon pot still, a 750-gallon fermenter, and a 1,000-gallon cooker that will be used to fill approximately one barrel per week. The focus will be on finishing, a practice RD1 has employed since its inception. Its Brazilian Amburana finished bourbon scored a 93 with your tasting panel. In addition to the distillery, the 10,215 square foot space will also be home to an R&D lab, an interactive experience about Lexington’s bourbon history, tours, a cocktail bar, outdoor seating areas, a gift shop, and event space.

Founded in 2020, RD1 (registered distillery one) is named in honor of Lexington’s first federally registered distillery: William Tarr Distillery. Its current location on Manchester Street houses a tasting room and gift shop while its bourbon is distilled at Western Kentucky Distilling in Beaver Dam, Kentucky under the direction of master distiller Jacob Call. RD1’s new home does not mean a change for its bourbon's source; it will continue to be distilled at Western Kentucky Distilling.