![Kentucky Distilleries' Association - Bourbon, It's More Than a Drink, Bourbon's 10 Year Journey to Pouring $9 Billion into State's Economy](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kentucky-Distilleries-Association-Bourbon-Its-More-Than-a-Drink-Bourbons-10-Year-Journey-to-Pouring-9-Billion-into-States-Economy-Cover.jpg)
Bourbon is a signature industry that fuels economic development and tourism in the state of Kentucky. As one of the state’s top global exports, this legendary $9 billion industry sustains more than 23,100 jobs for Kentuckians with more than $1.63 billion in annual payroll. Kentucky distillers are in the middle of a 10-year, $5.4 billion building boom to expand production and create memorable Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tourism experiences for millions of guests from around the world.
For more than a decade, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association – KDA has led the way in working with members of the General Assembly to grow and enhance the states signature distilling industry with the goal of keeping Kentucky the one, true, authentic home of America’s only native spirit.
The KDA is committed to maintaining Bourbon’s role as a signature industry in Kentucky. To ensure Kentucky maintains its distilling dominance, KDA worked closely with the General Assembly to modernize archaic Prohibition-era laws.
From adding privileges essential to distilleries building world-class tourism experiences, to sunsetting repressive taxes, supporting workforce training, and promoting responsibility measures, the KDA and the General Assembly have made great strides for Kentucky.
The KDA plans on continuing to work together to create policies and quickly respond to consumer demands in the new, global marketplace and economy.
Below is a detailed timeline of some of the key steps Kentucky’s General Assembly has taken to modernize, grow and protect the states signature Bourbon industry over the last 10 years.
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Bourbon — It's More Than a Drink.
![Kentucky Distillers' Association - 2024 Biennial State of the Bourbon Industry Report, Kentucky Bourbon Industry Leaders](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-2024-Biennial-State-of-the-Bourbon-Industry-Report-Kentucky-Bourbon-Industry-Leaders.jpg)
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Kentucky Bourbon’s $9 Billion Economic Impact
![Kentucky Distillers' Association - 2024 Biennial State of the Bourbon Industry Report, Kentucky Bourbon Industry Leaders](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-2024-Biennial-State-of-the-Bourbon-Industry-Report-Kentucky-Bourbon-Industry-Leaders.jpg)
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![Kentucky Distillers' Association - 2024 Biennial State of the Bourbon Industry Report](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-2024-Biennial-State-of-the-Bourbon-Industry-Report-Cover-for-YouTube.jpg)
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Watch the Entire ‘Bourbon Economic Impact Report’ Presentation
![Kentucky Distillers' Association - 2024 Biennial State of the Bourbon Industry Report](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-2024-Biennial-State-of-the-Bourbon-Industry-Report-Cover-for-YouTube.jpg)
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![Kentucky Distillers' Association - 2023 The Kentucky State of Bourbon, Steady Growth, Record Taxes](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-2023-The-Kentucky-State-of-Bourbon-Steady-Growth-Record-Taxes-Cover.jpg)
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Record $6.7 Billion Barrel Valuation
![Kentucky Distillers' Association - 2023 The Kentucky State of Bourbon, Steady Growth, Record Taxes](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-2023-The-Kentucky-State-of-Bourbon-Steady-Growth-Record-Taxes-Cover.jpg)
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![Kentucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Gov Signs HB5 Ending the Bourbon Barrel Tax in Kentucky](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-Kentucky-Gov-Signs-HB5-Ending-the-Bourbon-Barrel-Tax-in-Kentucky-Cover.jpg)
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House Bill 5: Barrel Tax Phase-Out
![Kentucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Gov Signs HB5 Ending the Bourbon Barrel Tax in Kentucky](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-Kentucky-Gov-Signs-HB5-Ending-the-Bourbon-Barrel-Tax-in-Kentucky-Cover.jpg)
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![Brown Forman Distillery - Barrel Warehouses on Brown Forman Road, Utica, Indiana 1962-1984](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Brown-Forman-Distillery-Barrel-Warehouses-on-Brown-Forman-Road-Utica-Indiana-1962-1984.jpg)
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Bourbon Maker's Moved Barrels Out of State in the 60s
![Brown Forman Distillery - Barrel Warehouses on Brown Forman Road, Utica, Indiana 1962-1984](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Brown-Forman-Distillery-Barrel-Warehouses-on-Brown-Forman-Road-Utica-Indiana-1962-1984.jpg)
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![Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcomed More Than 2 Million Visitors in 2022](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-Welcomed-More-Than-2-Million-Visitors-in-2022-Cover.jpg)
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Kentucky Bourbon Trail Visitors Exceed 2+ Million Visitors
![Kentucky Bourbon Trail - Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcomed More Than 2 Million Visitors in 2022](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-Welcomed-More-Than-2-Million-Visitors-in-2022-Cover.jpg)
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![Maker's Mark Distillery - Tasting from the Barrel with a Whiskey Thief](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Makers-Mark-Distillery-Tasting-from-the-Barrel-with-a-Whiskey-Thief-Cover-1.jpg)
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House Bill 500: Private Barrel Selections, Exclusive Bottles, Satellite Tasting Rooms and Fair & Festival Sales
![Maker's Mark Distillery - Tasting from the Barrel with a Whiskey Thief](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Makers-Mark-Distillery-Tasting-from-the-Barrel-with-a-Whiskey-Thief-Cover-1.jpg)
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![Kentucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-and-Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-Craft-Tour-Cover-1.jpg)
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Kentucky Bourbon Trail Attendance Rebounds
![Kentucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-and-Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-Craft-Tour-Cover-1.jpg)
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![Kntucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Edges Closer to Direct to Consumer Shipment via Phone or Online](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/kntucky-distillers-association-kentucky-edges-closer-to-direct-to-consumer-shipment-via-phone-or-online-cover.jpg)
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House Bill 415: Direct-to-Consumer Shipping
![Kntucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Edges Closer to Direct to Consumer Shipment via Phone or Online](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/kntucky-distillers-association-kentucky-edges-closer-to-direct-to-consumer-shipment-via-phone-or-online-cover.jpg)
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![Kentucky Bourbon Trail - The Napa-fication of Kentucky's Bourbon Trail](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-Americas-Native-Spirit-Postcard-Napa-fication.jpg)
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What is the Napa-fication of Kentucky?
![Kentucky Bourbon Trail - The Napa-fication of Kentucky's Bourbon Trail](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-Americas-Native-Spirit-Postcard-Napa-fication.jpg)
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![Kentucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Bourbon Trail 2020 Traffic Plummets](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-2020-Traffic-Plummets-Cover.jpg)
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Senate Bill 67: Take-Home Cocktails for Restaurants
![Kentucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Bourbon Trail 2020 Traffic Plummets](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-Kentucky-Bourbon-Trail-2020-Traffic-Plummets-Cover.jpg)
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![Moonshine University - Brandy Workshop](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Moonshine-University-Brandy-Workshop-Cover.jpg)
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Senate Bill 68: Strengthening Distillers’ Workforce Development
![Moonshine University - Brandy Workshop](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Moonshine-University-Brandy-Workshop-Cover.jpg)
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![Face Masks Required - Caution](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Face-Masks-Required-Caution.png)
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Senate Bill 5: Business Legal Liability Relief
![Face Masks Required - Caution](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Face-Masks-Required-Caution.png)
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![Kntucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Edges Closer to Direct to Consumer Shipment via Phone or Online](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/kntucky-distillers-association-kentucky-edges-closer-to-direct-to-consumer-shipment-via-phone-or-online-cover.jpg)
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House Bill 415: Direct to Consumer – DTC Shipping
![Kntucky Distillers' Association - Kentucky Edges Closer to Direct to Consumer Shipment via Phone or Online](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/kntucky-distillers-association-kentucky-edges-closer-to-direct-to-consumer-shipment-via-phone-or-online-cover.jpg)
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![Kentucky Distillers' Association - Barrel Taxes](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-Barrel-Taxes-Cover-1.jpg)
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House Bill 351: Tax Exemption Fix for Purchasing New Distilling Equipment & Fully Funding the Ignition Interlock Program
![Kentucky Distillers' Association - Barrel Taxes](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Kentucky-Distillers-Association-Barrel-Taxes-Cover-1.jpg)
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![Casey Jones Distillery - Casey Jones Barrel Warehouse](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Casey-Jones-Distillery-Casey-Jones-Barrel-Warehouse.jpg)
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Senate Bill 99: More Regulatory Reforms
![Casey Jones Distillery - Casey Jones Barrel Warehouse](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Casey-Jones-Distillery-Casey-Jones-Barrel-Warehouse.jpg)
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![Casey Jones Distillery - Hand Sanitizer](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/casey-jones-distillery-hand-sanitizer.jpg)
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Senate Bill 150: COVID Assistance
![Casey Jones Distillery - Hand Sanitizer](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/casey-jones-distillery-hand-sanitizer.jpg)
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![Kentucky Distillers' Association Honors Legislature for DUI Interlock Law](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/DUI-Interlock-Device.jpg)
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Senate Bill 85: Ignition Interlocks Reform
![Kentucky Distillers' Association Honors Legislature for DUI Interlock Law](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/DUI-Interlock-Device.jpg)
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![Casey Jones Distillery - Day 1 of Direct to Consumer Shipping](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Casey-Jones-Distillery-Day-1-of-Direct-to-Consumer-Shipping.jpg)
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House Bill 400: Distillery Visitor Center Shipping
![Casey Jones Distillery - Day 1 of Direct to Consumer Shipping](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Casey-Jones-Distillery-Day-1-of-Direct-to-Consumer-Shipping.jpg)
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![Heaven Hill Distillery - President Max L. Shapira Gifts a 1942 Bottle of Old Heaven Hill to Kentucky Gov Matt Bevin](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/heaven-hill-distillery-president-max-l.-shapira-gifts-a-1942-bottle-of-old-heaven-hill-to-kentucky-gov-matt-bevin-cover.jpg)
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House Bill 100: Vintage & Antique Spirits, Kentucky Whiskey Protections
![Heaven Hill Distillery - President Max L. Shapira Gifts a 1942 Bottle of Old Heaven Hill to Kentucky Gov Matt Bevin](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/heaven-hill-distillery-president-max-l.-shapira-gifts-a-1942-bottle-of-old-heaven-hill-to-kentucky-gov-matt-bevin-cover.jpg)
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![HR 747 Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Reaches Majority in House](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/washington-dc.jpg)
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Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform
![HR 747 Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Reaches Majority in House](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/washington-dc.jpg)
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![Kentucky Distilleries Pour $8.5 Billion into State's Economy](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/kentucky-distilleries-pour-8.5-billion-into-states-economy.jpg)
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Senate Bill 11: Bourbon Tourism Reforms
![Kentucky Distilleries Pour $8.5 Billion into State's Economy](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/kentucky-distilleries-pour-8.5-billion-into-states-economy.jpg)
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![Pursuit Spirits - The Whole Shebang Whiskey Thieving Experience](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Pursuit-Spirits-The-Whole-Shebang-Whiskey-Thieving-Experience.jpg)
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House Bill 445: Bourbon Barrel Tax Credit
![Pursuit Spirits - The Whole Shebang Whiskey Thieving Experience](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Pursuit-Spirits-The-Whole-Shebang-Whiskey-Thieving-Experience.jpg)
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![](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Lawyer.png)
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Senate Bill 83: Modernizing Alcohol Laws and License Types
![](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Lawyer.png)
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![Kentucky State Parks](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kentucky-State-Parks.jpg)
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House Bill 475: Alcohol in State Parks
![Kentucky State Parks](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Kentucky-State-Parks.jpg)
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![Kentucky State Capital - Frankfort, Kentucky](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Kentucky-State-Capital-Frankfort-Kentucky.jpg)
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Senate Bill 13: Election Day Sales
![Kentucky State Capital - Frankfort, Kentucky](https://www.distillerytrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Kentucky-State-Capital-Frankfort-Kentucky.jpg)
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