Kentucky’s Lost Bourbon Distilleries

Kentucky bourbon is world-renowned, and the distilling of this corn-based liquor has deep roots in almost every corner of the state. Hundreds of distilleries dotted the landscape, beginning with the early settlements until 1920, when the vast majority were closed because of Prohibition. Many of the distilleries never reopened and became "lost," with only old photographs left to tell this story of dedicated craftsmanship. In some cases, distilleries reopened during a "bourbon boom" when Prohibition finally ended in 1933, only to falter a few decades later. Some of those distilleries were sold and portions of the properties, like warehouses, reused by the new owner. Despite everything, bourbon distilling remains a major industry in the state--and a world-famous icon for Kentucky. Kentucky's Lost Bourbon Distilleries is dedicated to the many people who worked at distilleries that may be "lost" but are not forgotten.