The Distillery District on Manchester Street: bourbon tours, cider, beer, the Manchester hotel, live music, hours, parking and the LexRide shuttle.
Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Hours and addresses come from each business’s own website, linked below. City information: LexCall 311 or 859-425-2255.
The Distillery District is Lexington’s bourbon, cider and music strip on Manchester Street, just west of downtown. It sits on the 25-acre site of the James E. Pepper Distillery, which began making bourbon in 1879 and was abandoned in 1958, according to the Lexington Distillery District. Local entrepreneurs started reviving it in 2008, and the district says three working bourbon distilleries now operate on the historic site.
At a glance
- Where: Manchester Street, from the Manchester hotel at 899 and 941 Manchester St. west to the Pepper distillery at 1228 Manchester St.
- Distillery tours: Barrel House Distilling Co. (859-259-0159) and James E. Pepper
- Parking: free lot directly across Manchester Street until 6 p.m., according to Granddam
- No car: the LexRide circulator, Thursday through Saturday evenings, April through October
- Questions about the district: info@lexingtondistillerydistrict.org
Bourbon, cider and beer
| Business | Address | What it is | Hours (own site) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel House Distilling Co. | 1200 Manchester St. | Craft distillery in the old Pepper barreling house; tours start on the hour | Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m. |
| James E. Pepper Distillery | 1228 Manchester St. | The revived Pepper brand’s distillery; tours booked online | See tour booking |
| Dark Arts Whiskey House | 1170 Manchester St., Suite 190 | Whiskey tastings, bar and bottle shop | Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Wise Bird Cider Co. | 1170 Manchester St., Suite 140 | Cidery with up to eight house ciders and the Little Fork kitchen | Monday to Thursday 4 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday noon to 9 p.m. |
| Ethereal Brewing | 1224 Manchester St. | Brewery and taproom in a former fermentation room | See website; 859-309-1254 |
Barrel House says guests should arrive early because tours start right on time, and points visitors to the Elkhorn Tavern next door for food and cocktails before a tour. The district’s guide says James E. Pepper’s tour includes the distillery museum, the working stills and a tasting, and that the distillery draws on the historic limestone well.
Food, games and dessert
- Granddam, in the Manchester hotel at 941 Manchester St.: breakfast daily 7 to 11 a.m., brunch Friday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Phone 859-785-3905.
- Lost Palm, the rooftop bar on the seventh floor of the same hotel: 21 and older, walk-ins welcome, cabanas by reservation. Phone 859-785-3906.
- District 7, 1170 Manchester St., Suite 160: games, food and drinks; Wednesday and Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday noon to midnight, Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight, closed Monday. Phone 859-303-8327.
- Crank & Boom, 1210 Manchester St.: the ice cream maker’s Distillery District shop. Phone 859-288-2176.
- Little Fork, the kitchen at Wise Bird Cider: Monday to Thursday 4 to 9 p.m. and noon to 9 p.m. Friday to Sunday.
Live music
- Manchester Music Hall, 899 Manchester St.: touring and tribute acts. The age limit is set show by show (all ages, 18 and up or 21 and up), so check the listing before you buy.
- The Burl, 375 Thompson Road: a 1926 train depot turned music venue, with the Burl Arcade of retro games and pinball next door.
More venues across town are in live music and nightlife in Lexington.
Getting there and parking
The district is on the west edge of downtown, along Town Branch Creek. Granddam’s website says there is free parking directly across Manchester Street until 6 p.m.; after that, check signs before you leave a car.
Lextran’s LexRide circulator links downtown, the Distillery District and the Warehouse Block on National Avenue. Lextran says it runs 4 p.m. to midnight, Thursday through Saturday, April through October, with buses every 12 to 15 minutes, tracked in the MyStop app and paid by tapping a card or phone. The 2026 season ends with October. For other routes see getting around Lexington.
Plan a visit
- Lost Palm is 21 and older. Wise Bird says children and dogs are welcome.
- District 7 is closed Monday, and Wise Bird opens at 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday; Thursday through Saturday is when the most places are open late and LexRide runs.
- Pair it with a meal: brunch in Lexington and date night in Lexington.
- For a walk or ride before or after, see walking and biking trails.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Distillery District in Lexington?
It runs along Manchester Street just west of downtown, on the 25-acre site of the old James E. Pepper Distillery. Most businesses have addresses from 899 to 1228 Manchester St.
Can you tour a distillery in Lexington’s Distillery District?
Yes. Barrel House Distilling Co., 1200 Manchester St., runs tours that start on the hour, and James E. Pepper Distillery, 1228 Manchester St., books tours online. Dark Arts Whiskey House, 1170 Manchester St., offers guided tastings.
Is there free parking in the Distillery District?
Granddam, the restaurant in the Manchester hotel, says there is free parking directly across Manchester Street until 6 p.m.
Is the Distillery District dog-friendly?
Wise Bird Cider Co. says it is dog and kid friendly, and the district’s own guide says Ethereal Brewing welcomes dogs on its outdoor seating.
How do you get to the Distillery District without driving?
Lextran’s LexRide circulator links downtown, the Distillery District and the Warehouse Block from 4 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday, April through October, with buses every 12 to 15 minutes.
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