When thedistillerywasbuilthere in1879, itwas the
largestbourbondistillery in theUnitedStates.Now it
standsasaNationalHistoricLandmark,but it isalso
thebirthplaceofmodernLexingtonbusinesses, from
Ethereal to theMiddleForkKitchenBar to theBarrel
HouseDistillingCo. Italsomadeway forCrank&Boom
IceCreamLounge, aka theBreakRoombar,whichhas
adeckoverlookingTownBranch— themiddle forkof
theElkhornCreek,which iswhere thecitywas founded.
Crank&Boom founderToaGreendevelopedher
Lexington-famouscoconut icecream forher family’s
restaurant,ThaiOrchidCafé (nowThai&Mighty),
and theresoundingsuccessencouragedher to tinker
withnewflavors. I temporarilyditherbetweenchoices
oforiginalcoconut, coffeestoutandbourbon&honey
flavorsuntil Igiveupandgetascoopofeach.The
company’sdesire forspirit, communityandsharingem-
braces theuseof local ingredients, asenseofecological
responsibility, and in-kindandmonetarydonations to
organizations includingFoodChain. Itseemsperfectly
placed in thenewLexington.
iuseadifferentpassportwithavisittobarrel
HouseDistillingCo.TheKentuckyBourbonTrail
CraftTourPassport listsdistinctivemicro-distilleries
honoringthetraditionsandheritagethathavedefined
Kentuckybourbon formorethan200years.Thesmall-
batchRockCastleBourbon isnamed forKingSprings in
RockcastleCounty,where itsmountainspringwater is
sourced. Isip itslowly,hopingtoprolongtheexperience,
but itslidesdownmythroatandmyglass isempty far
tooquickly.Thebartenderkindlygivesmeanothertaste.
Duringmystay, I’vebecome familiarwithdowntown
Lexingtonbecause it’sallwithinwalkingdistanceofmy
hotel, theGratzParkInn.Fromhere, I’vewandered from
sitetositeonthecity’sAfricanAmericanHeritageTrail,
createdbysociologyprofessorDorisWilkinson.Next
doortotheMaryToddLincolnHouse(thechildhood
homeof the formerfirst lady)standsthesimplebrick-
and-columnMainStreetBaptistChurch.Fromthere, I
walkovertoCheapside,anareathatwasoneof themost
wellknownof theslave-marketdistricts intheSouth.
Adding to thehistoricself-tours in thedown-
townarea, anewmobileapphelpsmenavigate the
architecturalhighlightsofLexington’s traditional
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It’sthemiddleof the
afternoon—anacceptable
time forabeer, Ireason.
