Our friends at RD1 Spirits opened the doors this week to their new RD1 Distillery at The Commons, not far from downtown Lexington, Kentucky.
The newest stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail cost $5 million to construct. Covering 10,215 square feet, the new whiskey experience is more than three times the size of its original Tasting Room and Gift Shop nearby in Lexington. The space includes several tasting areas (including a chance to thieve whiskey straight from the barrel), a bourbon bar, a speakeasy private group space, a barrel rick, and a small research and development distillery. A variety of tours and tastings are available.
“Congratulations to RD1 Spirits on today’s grand opening,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “This is more than just a distillery. It’s a prime example of the type of opportunity bourbon tourism can offer communities across the Commonwealth. This is a tremendous addition to Lexington and our state’s bourbon industry, which continues to innovate and grow.”
“We're incredibly proud to open the doors of our beautiful, new home and invite guests into our world of wood-finished bourbon. As we listened to our fans and their captivating interest around how we test unique woods from throughout the world, we reimagined our original distillery plans to ultimately give guests an experience like no other on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.”
“RD1 didn’t just resurrect a name—they rekindled a passion for innovation, asking, ‘What else can bourbon do?’” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. “This stunning new RD1 Distillery at The Commons answers that question. It’s a place where visitors from near and far will discover the complex artistry of Kentucky Straight Bourbon, enhanced by unique wood finishes that push the boundaries of flavor.”
RD1 Spirits will continue to distill the bulk of its whiskey at Western Kentucky Distilling in Beaver Dam, in western Kentucky. RD1 Distillery at The Commons is now open Monday–Thursday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday–Saturday: 11 a.m.– 7 p.m.; and Sunday: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
The Whiskey Network is touring the new RD1 experience later this month and will have more to share once we do.
RD1 Distillery at The Commons highlights include:
- A visually striking, 240-barrel rick—visible from inside and outside the building—frames the venue.
- The lobby’s centerpiece, a handcrafted, 10-foot-tall oak tree, ascends into a glowing circular light fixture, giving artistic nods to Lexington’s four-plank horse farm fencing and bourbon’s strong connection to nature.
- One of the most unique stops on the tour is the “RD1 Forest,” an indoor experiential zone where guests walk among the trees while learning about forestry science, wood chemistry, the unique trees in RD1’s portfolio, and current finishing experiments.
- Equipment includes a 50-gallon fermenter, a custom hybrid pot still with column, and an 800-gallon pot still to potentially use in the future for larger test runs.
- Two private tasting rooms that can be combined into one, with seating for up to 36.
- A bourbon bar with seating for 26.
- A wrap-around patio with seating for up to 36, overlooking the future concert venue and green space of The Commons.
- A gift shop with limited releases—including RD1’s 12-year, Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon, only available for purchase at RD1 Distillery at The Commons—and other unique merchandise.
Source: RD1 Spirits
About RD1 Spirits
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, RD1 Spirits exists to explore the bourbon frontier. 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. RD1 is paving its own path, focusing on Kentucky Straight Bourbon and its interaction with various wood finishings in the barrel. For more information on this growing brand, visit RD1spirits.com or follow @RD1spirits on Facebook and Instagram.
