Kentucky Bourbon Hall Fame Announces New 2024 Inductees

Posted on by Jake Lewellen
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Fast Facts on 2024 Inductees to Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame

  • Ken Lewis, founder of New Riff Distilling, received the Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the bourbon industry.
  • Elmer Lucille Allen, the first Black chemist at Brown-Forman, is recognized for breaking barriers and promoting African American art and artists.
  • The 2024 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® induction ceremony will be held on September 10 at The Legacy at Log Still in Nelson County, KY.

2024 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

FRANKFORT, KY. – The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame has unveiled its distinguished class of 2024, celebrating individuals who have made transformative contributions to the bourbon industry. This year’s inductees include trailblazers and innovators who have elevated bourbon’s global stature. Among them are the first Black chemist at Brown-Forman, a veteran visitor center manager, two distinctive distillery founders, and a trailblazing retailer who established his own craft distillery.

Ken Lewis Honored with Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award

Ken Lewis, the retired Founder and CEO of New Riff Distilling, is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award. Known for his fearless entrepreneurship, Lewis founded New Riff Distilling in 2014 with a mission to innovate and redefine whiskey making. Before New Riff, he created The Party Source megastore and championed legislative changes for Sunday and credit card alcohol sales.

Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA), praised the inductees, stating, “Our signature Bourbon industry would not be what it is today without these distinguished honorees. They have helped Kentucky cement its place in history as the international and undisputed home of Bourbon.”

Meet the 2024 Inductees

  • Elmer Lucille Allen, 93, Louisville: The first Black chemist at Brown-Forman and a pioneering activist, Allen has been a trailblazer in the bourbon industry and beyond. Her efforts have brought African American art and artists into the mainstream.
  • Dee Ford, 59, Louisville: Ford’s leadership at Angel’s Envy and her work with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® have transformed bourbon tourism into a global attraction.
  • Ken Lewis, 71, Cincinnati: A spirits expert and policy leader, Lewis’s contributions to the retail side of the industry and his founding of New Riff Distilling have been instrumental in the craft bourbon boom.
  • The late Peter T. Loftin, 61, Miami: Founder of Bardstown Bourbon Company, Loftin revolutionized custom whiskey production and elevated bourbon tourism with a world-class restaurant and bar.
  • R.M. Corky Taylor, 75, Henderson, KY: Taylor revived his great-grandfather’s Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., gaining national recognition for adhering to high-quality bourbon standards.

Ceremony Details

The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® induction ceremony will be held on Tuesday, September 10, at The Legacy at Log Still in Nelson County, KY. This invitation-only event, sponsored by Brindiamo Group, Blue & Co., LLC, Bardstown Tourism, Buzick Construction, Inc., Stedman Machine Company, and Vendome Copper & Brass Works Corp., coincides with the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown.

About the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame®

Established in 2001 by the KDA, the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® recognizes individuals and organizations for their significant impact on bourbon’s growth and global awareness. Candidates are nominated by KDA members and selected by a committee of past Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.

For more detailed biographies of the 2024 inductees and to learn more about the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame®, visit bourbonlens.com.

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