James E. Pepper Distillery opening doors for public tours

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The James E. Pepper Distillery in Kentucky is opening its doors for public tours starting next week.

The opening culminates a multi-year project to relaunch the whiskey brand and rebuild the historic Lexington distillery, whose signature bourbon and rye brand is James E. Pepper 1776.

The tours begin July 12. Visitors will learn about the Pepper brand, spend time in a museum and take a behind-the-scenes distillery tour, then wrap up with tastings.

The Pepper family brand of whiskey was founded during the American Revolution and distilled over three family generations in Kentucky. Originally built in 1879, the Pepper Distillery was in operation until 1958, and then was abandoned for more than 50 years.