MAY ONE ALWAYS PUSH YOU FURTHER

RD1 crafts impressive Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon to celebrate the firsts in our lives – those who were first to create, first to believe, first to remove barriers. Just like the gutsy mavericks who built Lexington’s first registered distillery in the late 1800s, RD1 was started in 2020 by modern-day entrepreneurs who have the spirit to dare, a gift all firsts possess.

In 1865, Ashland Distillery became the first federally registered distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, and was assigned the distinction of RD#1. Later renamed the William Tarr Distillery, it was a powerhouse producer in the state until prohibition.

In 2020, Lexington entrepreneurs – awe-struck by the stories of these bourbon firsts – formed a new brand, RD1 Spirits, to keep the history alive and to help write the next chapter by specializing in wood-finished bourbon.

Today, RD1 has earned a spot on the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. All are invited to visit our current home in Lexington’s Distillery District and our new R&D distillery, under construction just a few miles away.