Georgetown, Kentucky has launched Bourbon Genesis, a new campaign that invites bourbon enthusiasts and history lovers alike to discover the legacy found there.
The initiative to boost tourism places Georgetown at the heart of Kentucky’s bourbon journey, honoring the site where Reverend Elijah Craig first distilled bourbon in 1789.
At the center of this story is Royal Spring Park, nestled in historic downtown Georgetown. Here, Elijah Craig, a Baptist preacher turned pioneering distiller, used the limestone-rich spring water to create a whiskey unlike any other. That same year, Craig became the first to age whiskey in new charred oak barrels, a process that defines bourbon to this day, imparting its signature amber hue and flavors of caramel, vanilla, and spice.
“Bourbon Genesis is more than a campaign, it’s a pilgrimage to where bourbon began,” said Lori Saunders, executive director of the Georgetown/Scott County Tourism Commission.
Georgetown continues to reflect Craig’s spirit of innovation and hospitality, offering visitors a vibrant blend of food, drink, and culture in its walkable downtown.
To kick off the campaign, a group of bourbon influencers visited Georgetown, starting with a private meeting at Local Feed with Chef Justin Thompson, before touring the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience to select a special barrel of Elijah Craig Bourbon, which was bottled as Bourbon Genesis Single Barrel.
This exclusive Bourbon Genesis bottle, a private barrel pick from Heaven Hill, will debut at the Founders’ Sip event hosted by Maime’s Fine Wine & Gifts in Georgetown on Friday, June 13, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Following the release, bottles will be available for purchase at Maime’s. Jeremy Atwood, a Kentucky native and Lead Bourbon Educator at Heaven Hill, will be leading the Founders Sip event.
The Bourbon Genesis barrel was handpicked by a panel of esteemed bourbon voices: Orlando “OJ” Lima, Jack Beguedou, Victor Sizemore, Tom Wilmes, Seth Thompson, Jess Ann Zimlich, Jeremy Chapline, Justin Thompson, and Chad Cole. Notably, Beguedou was named Top Spirits Influencer by the American Distilling Institute in 2024.
Attendees will be among the first to experience the Founders’ Sip and can purchase one bottle of Bourbon Genesis during the event. Suggested retail pricing is $115 per 750 mL and it is 123 proof. Tickets will be distributed first-come, first-served at the door.
