WRD 110 Podcast

The podcast discusses the significance of bourbon in Lexington, Kentucky. Bourbon has become an integral part of the state's infrastructure and its economic impact is expected to triple by 2025. The Lexington Distillery District is a hub for bourbon, with three distilleries and various entertainment options. The district has a rich history, starting with Colonel James E. Pepper's distillery in 1879. The area has a positive reputation but faced controversy when a popular YouTube channel gave a low rating to a pizza restaurant in the district. Despite this, bourbon remains an important aspect of Lexington's culture. Hello, everyone. This is Trace Holmstead with the Word 110 podcast. I hope wherever you are tuning in that this finds you well. In this short informational podcast, we will delve into one of the hallmarks of our old Kentucky home here in Lexington. So without further ado, sit down, grab a snack, make yourself comfortable. Hell, maybe even kick your feet up if you feel so inclined. Now, ask anyone anywhere what comes to mind when they think of the bluegrass, and you'll probably get one of three answers. Kentucky fried chicken, Kentucky Derby, or Kentucky bourbon. Today, I want to talk to you about the latter. So I hope you'll join me on this booze-filled deep dive into our state's most prominent spirit right here in Lexington. From its humble beginnings in the hills of Appalachia, bourbon has evolved past being just an enjoyable beverage. It has become an integral and necessary part of our state's very infrastructure. This sentiment of bourbon supremacy is only rising too. According to the 2022 Economic Impact Report released by the Kentucky Distillers Association, the yearly investments to distilleries and the Kentucky bourbon trail is expected to triple from around $380 million a year to $1.1 billion by 2025. This mass influx of cash will no doubt see this already flourishing industry grow to even greater heights. With that being said, I'd like us to turn our attention to our city's very own bourbon hub, known simply as the Lexington Distillery District. Nestled on Manchester Street right outside of downtown Lexington, the area boasts three fully functioning bourbon distilleries as well as a plentiful number of bars, dining options, and entertainment venues. Being of significant importance to our infrastructure, you could say the premier purpose of the district is to rake in money and stimulate the city's economy. The Distillery District as you see it today has only been around since 2008 when revitalization efforts first began, but our story begins much before then. Now, most of this information regarding the area's history is taken from the book Bottled in Bond Under U.S. Government Supervision, which was written by bourbon historian and Lexington local William M. Ambrose. It recounts the whiskey trade in Lexington from the time of Elijah Craig and the drink's inception all the way to 2003 when the book was published. So, let's go all the way back to 1879 and look at the de facto father of the Distillery District, Colonel James E. Pepper. Descended from a long line of distinguished distillers, Pepper acquired a 48-acre property from a land speculator and within a couple of years developed it into a fully functioning distillery that was capable of producing 28 barrels of Old Pepper whiskey a day. Pepper was a man consumed by the quality of his whiskey, using slogans like purest and best in the world and even placing warning on his bottles that read, beware of refilled bottles as to give the impression his whiskey was so good, his competitors wanted to imitate it. He continued to operate the distillery with great success until his death in 1906. By this time, the Old Pepper whiskey brand had agencies from San Francisco to New York City. The distillery and brand were owned and operated by a few different investment groups until November 1st, 1961 when the plant finally shut down. The distillery lay dormant and nearly untouched for over 50 years until 2008 when a group of investors proposed the revitalization of the Manchester Street location. According to an article published in the Lexington Herald Leader, staff writer Beverly Fortune explains that Barry McNeese, the majority partner in the development, hoped to turn the restoration into a celebration of the history of the place. The legacy of Lexington's Distillery District is entwined with its history, being a place of historical significance. Its legacy of quality bourbon that was established by Pepper back in 1879 is one that is seemingly well preserved. The area appears to have an outstanding reputation in its community, being a popular stop for both locals and tourists looking for a nice place to eat, drink, or socialize in the city. That is, according to an article written by reporter Madison Carter of the Lexington Herald Leader. It provides the city of Lexington with a unique area for recreation, and with a valid ID, you too can join in on the various distillery tours, urban tastings, and alcohol-packed activities offered there. However, this is not to say the area is completely free from controversy. One notable incident occurred on October 8, 2018, when the popular YouTube channel One Bite Pizza Reviews visited the area and featured the Goodfellas Distillery in one of its videos. In it, Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and subsequent foremost authority on pizza in the world, would give the pizza an all-time low rating of 0.0 out of 10. This led to a significant drop in the restaurant's Yelp score and a temporary tarnishing of its reputation. Janet Patton and Mike Stunson covered the aftermath of the incident in an article published by the Associated Press. The article, titled, After Barstool-Bashing Goodfellas Supporters Turned Out, highlighted the impact on Goodfellas Distillery's online reputation. Co-owner Alex Coates watched his 4.3 out of 5 Yelp score plummet to 1.5 in the span of a single afternoon. He found his company's phone lines flooded with what he referred to as hate calls. He claims he watched the business standing he spent 13 years building disappear in a matter of hours. The incident with Goodfellas Distillery, while dramatic, did not significantly impact business, with lines out of the door still being the norm on the days preceding the incident. Still, it remains a historical moment that casts a shadow on the distillery district's otherwise positive reputation. I'd like to end this edition of the Word 110 podcast with a quote from the man himself, Colonel James E. Pepper. In nearly every family, liquor was a daily article of consumption, and the brown jug an indispensable supplement to labor on every occasion. Even if it is from another time, I feel it truly encapsulates the importance that bourbon has always had in Lexington and throughout the entirety of Kentucky. I'm your host, Trace Olmstead. Thank you for listening.