Kentucky’s Bourbon Tourism Legislation

In the modern U.S. distilling boom, state legislators have passed distiller-friendly laws that created business opportunities in the likes of New York and Washington.

Lagging far behind has been, of all places, the industry’s stalwart state—Kentucky. And the reason why maj shock you.

In the digital age, Kentucky politicians still serve 1920s-era mindsets with 39 dry counties. Both the Kentucky Democratic and Republican caucuses have agreed to only vote on one alcohol bill a year to avoid potential dry voter fallout. Thus, the state’s political climate has hamstrung the distilling industry and allowed other states to earn craft distiller investments...