Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co — Attraction in Lexington

You can't come to Kentucky without trying some bourbon. Unfortunately, my friends do not drink bourbon, so that's when one of them (who lives in Lexington) suggested the Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. It's great because they also make beer here (gin and rum too!) so there are options for non-whiskey drinkers. Plus, it's probably about a 10-minute drive from downtown Lexington, so you don't have to drive 30-40 minutes out, where most of the distilleries are.

Three friends and I came in for the 3 pm tour on a Friday (about an hour long). We were the only ones on the tour, so it was nice and private. They give you four tokens to taste either the beer or the spirits. The beer part comes first and most of the beers are really good, so try not to use all of your tokens here. Since there were four of us, we ended up trying each other's beers so we got to try mostly everything. My favorites were the coffee barrel stout, coffee barrel cream ale and the vanilla barrel cream ale. You'll notice a lot of 'barrels' in these beer names because they use the whiskey barrels to add flavor to the beers. The best was when our guide (Mary) mixed the coffee stout with the vanilla cream, and it almost tasted like a frappucino.

Next is the whiskey. They explain the process and show us the casks they use to store it. If you haven't used up all your tokens on the beer already, this is where you can use the rest of them. To end the tour, they give you this coffee liqueur, served in a little shot glass. It tasted like Bailey's but less sweet, so it really good.

I'd definitely recommend this tour if you have both whiskey drinkers and non-whiskey drinkers...

I’ll admit I was a little confused about the name when booking. The bourbon trail has them listed as Town Branch, and then I started receiving emails from Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co. The place was fantastic. We checked in with no problems. Tom gave us our tour, and he was wonderful. We each received 4 tokens to trade in for samples. It was difficult to decide so my husband and our friends shared so everyone could taste all the things. The distillery tour was interesting, and the facilities were great. The beers were unusual and fantastic. The only one I didn’t care for was the pumpkin which I normally love. The raspberry was delicious, and I loved the cocoa. The whiskey area gave us a chance to grab some group photos. For the whiskey tasting, I didn’t care for the gin. I tried the rhubarb gin and was hoping for a local version something like the Edinburgh rhubarb but this was more like gin with a hint of rhubarb. I’m not a big fan of bourbon, but my husband really enjoyed them. His favorite was the single barrel. The highlight for me was the Sundowner. I will be enjoying some of that when it gets chilly this winter as a nice treat. After the tour, we went inside to purchase some goodies and met with one of the gentlemen in charge of the wedding side of their business. We got a private tour of the wedding facilities which have a medieval feel and are super cute. They can host medium-large groups and have a huge kitchen for catering. Ben was very knowledgeable and had lots of interesting information. Highly recommend...

🍺🥃 Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. – Where Irish Heritage Meets Kentucky Craft

In the heart of Lexington, Kentucky, Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. is a rare gem—a unique fusion of Irish tradition and American innovation. As the only combined brewery and distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, it offers an immersive, dual experience under one roof.

🔶 A Legacy Born in Ireland Founded in 1999 by Irish entrepreneur Dr. Pearse Lyons, the company revived a brewing heritage dating back to the 1890s. In 2012, the opening of Town Branch Distillery marked the first new distillery in Lexington in over 100 years—bringing Irish craftsmanship to Kentucky soil.

🥃 Signature Spirits & Brews Town Branch® Bourbon: A bold, high-malt bourbon shaped by limestone-rich Kentucky waters. Kentucky® Bourbon Barrel Ale: Award-winning beer aged in fresh bourbon barrels—where beer meets whiskey.

🔍 The Experience Tours take you through the entire brewing and distilling journey—from copper pot stills to fresh pours in the taproom. Enjoy tastings, behind-the-scenes views, and a relaxed patio atmosphere.

🌍 Irish Roots, Global Reach The Lyons family also founded the Pearse Lyons Distillery in a restored Dublin church, uniting Irish whiskey heritage with American bourbon tradition.

✨ Final Word Whether you're a bourbon lover, a craft beer explorer, or simply curious—this destination delivers history, flavor, and unforgettable craftsmanship...