Kentucky Distillers Association

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The Kentucky Distillers Association (KDA) is a trade association of spirits producers in the US state of Kentucky , in which the industry for bourbon whiskey , which is mainly based in Kentucky, has organized itself. In addition to lobbying and public relations work, the Kentucky Distillers Association operates the Kentucky Bourbon Trail , a tourist route that houses most of the state's major whiskey distilleries , and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, a tour that includes several newly opened microdistilleries.

history

The association was founded in 1880 at a time when the abstinence movement was growing in strength . The first goal was to fight against unnecessarily restrictive and patronizing laws. When Prohibition finally prevailed, the KDA also stopped its activities. It was only when the US-wide prohibition came to an end that the association was re-established to demand an end to regulations in Kentucky as well. As bourbon whiskey rebounded in the 21st century, the Kentucky Distillers Association also gained in importance. In 2014, 26 companies are members, the same number as at the beginning of Prohibition.

In 1999 the KDA opened the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour, and in 2001 a KDA opened a Hall of Fame for the bourbon industry.

Members

In December 2014 the KDA had 27 members. Members of the Kentucky Distillers Association include Wild Turkey , Maker's Mark , Jim Beam , Davide Campari-Milano , Four Roses , Diageo , Brown-Forman , Heaven Hill , Beam Suntory and Woodford Reserve . Of the major bourbon producers, only the Sazerac Company with its affiliated distilleries is not a member. This separated from the KDA in 2010 and got out of the Bourbon Trail. The cause was a dispute over the marketing of the tours on site and the Bourbon Trail. Sazerac and the KDA could not agree whether Sazerac could have "on the Bourbon" protected as a trademark of their own distilleries, which ultimately led to the exit from the entire KDA.

Remarks

  1. ↑ Becky Paskin: Kentucky Distillers' Association boasts most members since Prohibition , The Spirits Business December 2, 2014
  2. ↑ Janet Patton: Two distilleries officially off the Bourbon Trail , Kentucky.com February 5, 2010
  3. ↑ Associated Press: Sazerac Company sued by Kentucky distillers' group over trademark from: The Times-Picayune, May 3, 2010

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