James E. Pepper Distillery

The female staff member provided excellent service and gave very informative details about Bourbon. I was truly impressed! Unfortunately, we had other places to visit, so we didn’t have a chance to join the tour this time.!

Great experience with the tour, tasting, and cocktail. Slaid was a great guide, knowledgeable about the history, and easy going.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 A Journey Through Time at James E. Pepper Distillery

Stepping into the James E. Pepper Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, felt like walking through a living chapter of bourbon history. Established in 1880 by Colonel James E. Pepper, a third-generation distiller and passionate advocate for whiskey innovation, this distillery was once the largest and most technologically advanced in the United States.

After being dormant for over 50 years, the distillery has been meticulously restored, with distilling resuming in 2017. The commitment to authenticity is evident, from the use of the original limestone well to the revival of historic recipes.

The tour was both informative and intimate, offering insights into the distillation process and the storied past of the Pepper brand. Tasting their signature 1776 Bourbon and Rye was a highlight—each sip a testament to their dedication to quality and tradition.

Beyond the distillery, the surrounding Distillery District is a vibrant hub of activity. I enjoyed a slice at Goodfellas Pizzeria, known for its New York–style pizza and craft cocktails. A visit to Crank & Boom provided a sweet treat with their artisanal ice creams. For those interested in craft beer, Ethereal Brewing offers a diverse selection in a cozy setting.

The James E. Pepper Distillery is more than just a place to taste exceptional bourbon; it's a destination that celebrates the rich tapestry of Kentucky's bourbon heritage. Highly recommended for history buffs, whiskey enthusiasts, and anyone looking to experience the soul of Lexington.

Excellent tour and tasting at this craft distillery. Sophie was an excellent tour guide. So cool to see this process up close.

The Pepper Distillery Tour is the best of four that my family and I attended. It is a beautiful place, first of all, and they offer something the others didn't. A taste of moonshine that is a byproduct of their process! Best reason, though, is the quality of our tour guide. Kira had a clear voice that carried well and the script was concise and clear, too. As an example, she distilled (pun intended) the uniqueness of bourbon to three ABC qualities: American (no other country makes it), B (Barrels must be new white oak), and C (Corn must be at least 51% of the mash).

Good tour. Clean bathrooms.

Excellent tour and bourbon.

My wife and I stopped by for a tasting. The tasting room is small, but most people were coming through for tours, so we had places to sit. The story of the distillery is really cool, and there is a lot of history. The current owners have restored the original distillery building on the original site, and it now houses various restaurants and shops, inside the various parts of the old distillery building, which is really cool. It's a really popular area overall now sitting right next to a river. My favorite pour was from their special edition decanter series.

Tasting right from the barrel is super cool

Great tour. Mimi did a fantastic job of keeping it lively, explaining the unique attributes of the Pepper family, distillery, and bourbon. It made for one of our favorite tours and the Old Fashioneds are like no other!

Upon arrival we toasted with their Classic Old Fashioned and it was great way to start our visit. I really liked the history portion of this tour and “B” was a great tour guide. I made a mistake on our tour time and she was kind in making room for us to join so we wouldn’t miss out on the fun! We left with a couple of bottles and enjoyed our tastings.

Be sure to get an old fashioned. Definitely the best one I have had

The tour was fun and informative.
Alot of great information, and a fun guide. Getting to taste before aging. Straight from the barrel. Then some of the bottled selection was a nice way to experience the distillery and its process.

This was an amazing tour. Our guide, Mimi was a very funny energetic tour guide and made it amazing. The tour and history itself is very very interesting and is a must visit if you're looking for a good distillery tour.
Definitely will be coming back!!

Beautiful old building in a hoping area. I did try 2 of there pours and was pleased with the product.