The B-Line’s seven Northern Kentucky craft bourbon distilleries were just added to the world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® as part of KBT’s 25th Anniversary celebration.

This is a boon for these small, NKY distilleries, which previously were a part of the Trail’s ancillary Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® but were not included on the larger, full Bourbon Trail.

Now stops on the Trail, the local small businesses will be part of a tourism enterprise that saw 2.5 million visitors across Kentucky’s distilleries just last year.
 
The seven NKY craft bourbon distilleries are:
 
·       Augusta Distillery (Augusta)
·       Boone County Distilling Company (Independence)
·       Neely Family Distillery (Sparta)
·       New Riff Distilling (Newport)
·       Old Pogue Distillery (Maysville)
·       Pensive Distilling Co. (Newport)
·       Second Sight Spirits (Ludlow)
 

 “The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® has provided millions of visitors with their first sip of our world-famous hospitality and given them a gateway to explore the rich heritage of our Commonwealth,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, President & CEO of meetNKY, Northern Kentucky’s visitors and tourism bureau. “Northern Kentucky is proud to serve as a one of the unique access points to the Kentucky Bourbon experience, offering visitors our unique blend of historic charm and modern attractions that sets the stage for an unforgettable journey.”

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association created the Kentucky Bourbon Trail pilgrimage in 1999 to educate visitors on the art and science behind making America’s only native spirit. It was America’s first spirits tour and has since welcomed more than 18 million visitors from all 50 states and dozens of countries. 
 
“We knew we had something special, but we never could have dreamed it would evolve from a simple industrial tour of distilleries into an international bucket list experience filled with rare and behind-the-scenes adventures,” said Eric Gregory, president of Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

Following rapid growth and innovation by distillers, the KDA created the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour in 2012 to showcase smaller distilleries. Its 28 craft distilleries will now join the 18 members of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour, forming one statewide Bourbon Trail experience. Seven of those craft distillers are in NKY.

“All Kentucky distilleries – big and small have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into their tourism experiences, resulting in record-breaking economic development, jobs, tax dollars, restaurants, hotels, and more that build off of Bourbon’s popularity,” said Gregory. “It’s a lucrative path for Bourbon to give back to local communities.”

SEBREE, Ky. (WFIE) – Terri Lynn Nunn has made a habit of volunteering her time at the local animal shelter in Webster County.

That volunteering led to more than she probably ever anticipated.

“I volunteer weekly at the Webster County Animal Shelter. I go in, and I walk dogs. One day, I just kind of randomly asked, ‘was there any dogs that were kind of struggling?’” she recalls.

As it turned out, one dog in particular, Beau, was just who she was looking for.

Keeping to himself and not fond of much, if any human interaction, Terri took a swing at getting to know him.

“I got in the kennel with him, and we just kind of sat together,” she says. “He didn’t have anything to do with me.”

That is, until he discovered what she had in her back pocket.

“I kind of dragged out the Little Debby snack cake. I had one in my pocket, and I said, ‘would you like a bite?’ and he kind of did a little side eye at me, and I gave him a little bite and scooted a little closer, and that’s how we became friends,” says Nunn.

While Beau was busy discovering snack cakes, Terri discovered that Beau’s neck wasn’t just a little thick.

It looked like he had some sort of mass. She had the shelter get him into the vet, who confirmed her suspicions.

“The vet called me that day and said that Beau had Lymphoma, and it could be months, it could be years, but his time is warranted,” she says, “so at that point, I knew Beau had to come home with me.”

Somewhere over 10-years-old, just in the ballpark of 50 pounds, and sporting a new cancer diagnosis, Beau came home.

So began his new life of car rides, lounging by the pool, and of course, medication.

However, there was one part of the shelter he just couldn’t seem to let go of.

“His favorite thing in the whole world is a honey bun,” says Nunn with a smile.

Now accustomed to the finer things in life, Terri says they tried to substitute cheaper versions of the snack cake, but Beau wasn’t having it.

He was sticking exclusively to Little Debbie.

As he began his road to recovery in his new home, Nunn began sharing his story online.

This prompted not just local interest, but a surprise donation of the things he loves most.

“Little Debbie picked his story up and sent him his ‘get well’ package,” says Nunn.

Filled with Honey Buns and Zebra Cakes, Beau had his very own stash of snacks to enjoy.

While they don’t know how much time Beau has left, Terri says they’re the ones who have lucked out, getting to make him as comfortable as possible while enjoying his favorite things.

She says so many dogs just like Beau live in your local shelters.

If you can make it happen, she wants to urge others to go spend time with them or even bring home a Beau of your own.

“He’s really changed me. He’s changed my heart, and I think he’s changed a lot of people,” says Nunn.

Nunn says the Webster County Animal Shelter where Beau came from is currently holding onto roughly 30 more dogs than they’re suited to care for.

To get ahold of them to get a look at what animals they have or to perhaps volunteer some time, check out their Facebook page.

Copyright 2024 WFIE. All rights reserved.

CRESTWOOD, Ky. (LEX 18) — Someone in Kentucky must be leaping for joy as a $10 million Powerball ticket was recently sold at Circle K No. 3305 in Crestwood, according to a press release from the KY Lottery.

The release detailed that the winning ticket matched all five white balls and Powerball in the second Double Play drawing, resulting in the top tier $10 million prize win. The Double Play drawing takes place right after the Powerball drawing. Monday night’s winning Powerball Double Play numbers were 1,31,33,54,60, and Powerball 26.

The win marks Kentucky’s first top tier Powerball Double Play win since the feature was established in late 2023, Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville highlighted.

“The Kentucky Lottery has winners every day and it’s always extra special when we have a really big winner, especially on Powerball since it is one of our most popular games,” Harville said.

For an additional $1, players can choose to activate Double Play which enters a player’s same set of numbers in both drawings, the release read.

The Powerball jackpot is currently estimated at $95 million, and has produced no winners at this time. The release noted that the next Powerball drawing will take place at 11 p.m. EST on Wednesday.

The release advised lottery winners to claim their prizes at the lottery headquarters, located at 1011 W. Main Street in Louisville after calling 877-789-4532 to make an appointment to claim their prize.