The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, managed by The Kentucky Distillers’ Association, is set to welcome five new members this September. Established in 2011, The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame recognizes those who have contributed to the culture and legacy of Kentucky Bourbon.
The five new members will be officially inducted at an invitation-only ceremony, scheduled for September 10th at The Legacy at Log Still in Nelson County, KY.
Five New Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Famers
The new inductees are as follows:
- Elmer Lucille Allen, 93, Louisville – Elmer Allen is the first Black Chemist to be inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Through her pioneering work and activism at Brown-Forman, Allen has transformed the face of Kentucky bourbon by breaking down boundaries within the industry, working her way up from Junior Chemist in 1966 to Senior Analytical Chemist in the 1990s.
- Dee Ford, 59, Louisville – Ford is a veteran of bourbon hospitality. She became Chair of the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail Committee in 2014, and has contributed to the establishment of the trail as an international tourist destination. Ford also works with Angel’s Envy, overseeing the distillery’s visitor strategies.
- Ken Lewis, 71, Cincinnati – Lewis is the now-retired CEO and Founder of New Riff Distilling, which was founded in 2014. Prior to this, Lewis was a spirits retailer having founded The Party Source. Using his expertise and influence in the industry, Ken Lewis campaigned for Sunday sales and for the rights of retailers to use credit cards for sales.
- The late Peter T. Loftin, 61, Miami – Entrepreneur and philanthropist, Peter T. Loftin, founded the Bardstown Bourbon Company, the modernized distillery and visitor experience attracting tourists from across the globe. Loftin was one of the first to take advantage of modernized bourbon laws and transform collaborative distilling. He passed away in 2019.
- R.M. “Corky” Taylor III, 75, Henderson – “Corky” Taylor set out to resurrect his great-grandfather’s whiskey company with his son, Carson. The Kentucky Peerless Distilling Company is a continuation of Corky’s family legacy. Located on Whiskey Row, the distillery puts forth the same high-quality bourbon that it became known for in the 1880s.
The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame
New members are inducted into The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame each year. The candidates are nominated by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and its member distilleries. Then, the blue-ribbon committee reviews each candidate and selects the final five for induction.
Current Hall of Famers include Parker Beam (after whom the Park Beam Lifetime Achievement Award is named), Frederick Booker Noe III, Albert Blanton, and George T. Stagg.
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) was founded in 1880 by prominent distillers to protect the state’s whiskey industry and promote fair business practices. Initially, the KDA worked to combat adulterated spirits and establish industry standards. The organization endured Prohibition and played a key role in reviving the industry afterward. Today, the KDA advocates for Kentucky’s bourbon and whiskey producers, focusing on legislative efforts, tourism, and industry sustainability. It also spearheads the popular Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which boosts tourism and highlights the state’s rich bourbon heritage.