New Era Whiskey has opened Lexington, Kentucky’s first combination bourbon distillery, tasting room, gift shop and social club. The downtown venue welcomed the public for the first time on 2 September 2026.
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READ THE STORYFounder Zane Brammell cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. He was joined by Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development secretary Jeff Noel, Lexington mayor Linda Gorton, and Visit Lex director of communications Martina Barksdale.
The distillery produces cask-strength, single-barrel bourbons and whiskeys. Its releases carry names styled to mimic newspaper headlines, a nod to the era when newspapers were the primary means of spreading news.
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Past bottlings include "Stage Diver," "Frankenfurt," "Lefty" and "The Heart," each paired with bold, colorful label graphics.
Visitors to the venue can browse a tasting room and gift shop, sampling the range and buying branded merchandise. The site also houses a library of past bottlings and new arrivals.
Members of the New Era Social Club gain access to a private tasting space, complete with seating, a kitchen, games and big-screen televisions. Club members also receive one bottle delivered monthly, invitations to special events, and further members-only perks.
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"I’m beyond excited to bring this experience to downtown Lexington," said Brammell. "It’s hard to believe that what started as a hobby for me to help decompress from my healthcare job during COVID-19 has turned into reality."
Kentucky governor Andy Beshear praised the investment. "Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry is one of the many reasons we’ve been able to break our tourism record for economic impact for four straight years," he said.
Noel added: "Bourbon tourism brings visitors from across the world to Kentucky, supporting local restaurants and hotels and driving economic growth for our state."
Gorton said the project "strengthens our local economy, supports jobs, and adds to the steady momentum we’re building in our urban core."
Barksdale said Lexington had "firmly established itself as a premier destination for bourbon tourism."
Kentucky remains the heartland of bourbon production, home to roughly 95% of the world’s supply. The state’s distilleries continue to draw record numbers of visitors along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Further information is available at New Era Whiskey.
