RD1 Spirits Distillery — Attraction in Lexington

A Memorable Birthday Experience at RD1 Spirits

As someone who has toured over 15 distilleries, I can confidently say that RD1 Spirits stands out in a big way. One of the most unique aspects of my visit was the opportunity to taste truly one-of-a-kind selections during the Bottle-Your-Own Experience—some of which may never be offered again. While only a few distilleries, like Whiskey Thief (formerly 3 Boys), offer the rare chance to bottle straight from the barrel, RD1’s tasting experience brought an even higher level of exclusivity.

What truly sets RD1 apart is the quality of their bourbon. I’ve always believed that bourbon should be smooth and enjoyable—not a harsh burn from start to finish. RD1 absolutely delivers on that philosophy. Every sip was a pleasure, and it’s clear they take great pride in crafting a spirit that’s both bold and beautifully balanced.

A special shoutout to Sydney, who did a phenomenal job guiding us through the tasting. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and hospitality made the experience even more enjoyable. I’ll definitely be returning with a larger group to share this gem with others.

Thank you, RD1, for making my birthday...

My wife and I both did the bourbon tasting, and I did the "bottle your own straight from the barrel" experience. The tasting was really enjoyable. Seeing how the varying wood can impart such interesting flavors to the bourbon was fascinating. We both enjoyed the food pairings with the bourbons as well.

For the "bottle your own" experience, I was surprised to see that the bottle we got was only 200mL. There is nothing on the booking page that states it's a 200mL bottle. Without specifying a size, stating "a bottle" leads one to believe it's a full-size 750mL bottle; and having never been to your distillery, and not knowing the cost of your bottles, I had no reason to assume otherwise when I'm paying $45. This feels deceptive, and it's tough to believe that it isn't intentional (but I'm trying to give benefit of the doubt). This needs to be changed on your website. Additionally, when your 750mL bottles are $70, $45 for a 200mL bottle feels pretty unreasonably excessive. If the owners feel this is still an appropriate price and good value, then they shouldn't have a problem adding the size of the bottle to the booking page so the buyers are...

Sadly as much as I like their green label bourbon I have to give this a one star. Went in with a few friends that were in town visiting on a late Saturday morning to buy a few bottles and potentially try a few others. Long story short we ended up waiting almost an hour with items to purchase and never did.

Upon arrival we were told by one employee that he had to give a tour and the other person working would take care of us when we got up to the bar/shop. But the other employee never showed up to help us and instead showed up with another tour group for a tasting at the bar. Then a while later the original employee showed up with his tour group. With both employees busy there was no way to purchase items or purchase a drink/pour. What would have been a quick trip and several bottles purchased, we had another place to be and decided to place our items back and leave.

If you're looking for a quick stop go somewhere else. Otherwise plan a few hours to stop here for a drink or to...