Issue link: http://theflywire.uberflip.com/i/1213401
COUPLE IS BUILDING LARGEST AFRICAN AMERICAN OWNED BOURBON DISTILLERY IN KENTUCKY Sean and Tia Edwards, owners of Fresh Bourbon Dis lling Co., announced the upcoming development of the a new 34,000 square feet dis llery in Lexington, KY and release of a new beverage alcohol spirits line, Fresh Spirits, marking mul ple firsts for African Americans in the KY Bourbon industry. Sean Edwards, Lexington na ve and African American entrepreneur, registered the company in 2017 and im- mediately began work on cra ing unique Bourbons, whiskeys and other spirits as well as opening a dis llery in his hometown. "For nearly three years, we have been diligently developing an authen c and unique Bourbon and spirits line. We chose not to buy Bourbon from someone else and just placed our name on a bo le. We have been very inten onal and deliberate in cra ing our spirits - from the mash bills up - and also our Fresh Bourbon team, including in selec ng our Master Dis ller. We are excited to share with the world what we have created with the world," stated Edwards. Fresh Bourbon's Master Dis ller, who is the first Kentucky African American Master Dis ller post slavery, developed the exclusive spirit recipes and is overseeing produc on. Their products are mashed, fermented, dis lled, matured and will ul mately be bo led en rely in Kentucky. The unique recipes are currently being produced under contract through Har ield & Co. Dis llery in Paris, KY. Fresh Spirits uses only the highest qual- ity ingredients to produce ultra-premium beverages. The company will secure a loca on near downtown Lexington's Dis llery District and will begin construc on of the dis llery later this year. In addi on to being the primary produc on loca on, the dis llery will offer tours and guided tas ngs plus include an event space. Fresh Bourbon launches late 2020 which will be followed by the release of Fresh Whiskey, Fresh Gin, and Fresh Agave coinciding with the opening of the dis llery. "Bourbon is a mainstay of Kentucky's economy, and I am thrilled to see this step toward greater inclusivity in this iconic industry," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear added. "Crea ng opportuni es for all Kentuckians is essen- al, and our administra on aims to pave the way for progress. I sincerely thank Fresh Bourbon Dis lling Co. for choosing to build its dis llery in our state." Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said the company is bringing to the surface an important part of the dis lling industry's history. "Congratula ons to Sean Edwards and everyone at Fresh Bourbon Dis lling Co.," Mayor Gorton said. "The his- tory of African Americans in the dis lling industry is o en forgo en. Fresh Bourbon is reviving that history and giving it new life in our Dis llery District." Stay tuned for updates and announcements at www.FreshBourbon.com