Kentucky Distillery Guide
Distillery · Kentucky Bourbon Trail craft stop

James E. Pepper Distillery

1228 Manchester St, Suite 100, Lexington, KY 40504

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Fayette County, Lexington and the Bluegrass

Hours

Tue-Sun; times vary

Times are Eastern Time. Operator gives open days but directs guests to current booking or Google hours for exact times. Do not turn this into an open-now interval.

Checked October 14 and 15, 2026 from the place’s own hours source. Hours change; confirm before you go.

Before you go

Visiting
Tours and tastings
Policies
Read the sourced visitor policies below for booking, children, pets, food and access conditions.
Makes
Bourbon, rye
Founded
2017

Published visitor policies

Conditions apply to the location and experience described. A policy answer does not guarantee admission or a tour seat.

Children on tours

Children allowed within the published conditions.

Tour participants must be at least 14. Younger children may use retail area.

Checked 10-14-2026. Source

Dogs

Dogs permitted within the published conditions.

Retail area is pet friendly; pets excluded from tours. Service-animal exception separate.

Checked 10-14-2026. Source

Reservations

recommended

Tours recommended in advance; tastings do not require reservations.

Checked 10-14-2026. Source

Experiences

guided tour

Checked 10-14-2026. Source

Not established in the reviewed sources: Food, Access information.

What’s here

  • Tours
  • Tastings
  • Cocktail bar
  • Gift shop

The James E. Pepper Distillery operated from 1880 until 1967 and resumed distilling in December 2017 after being rebuilt.

Timeline

  1. Operator dates Amir Peay brand relaunch to 2008.

    Source

  2. Modern distilling resumed.

    Source

  3. Operator says it announced restored on-site distilling December 21, 2017.

    Source

Each milestone says exactly what happened: a company founding is not the same as a first distillation or a visitor opening.

Nearby

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance. Your map app will be more exact.

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