Kentucky, home to 95% of the world’s bourbon and home to Bardstown, the ‘Bourbon Capital of the World’ will be ringing in 2024 with a brand-new custom license plate. The new license plate has been quietly maturing since 2020. Now after four years, the same amount of time it takes for most bourbons to mature, the state of Kentucky is finally releasing a custom bourbon license plate to state motor vehicle locations near you. And just to be clear the new Bardstown – Bourbon Capital of the World custom license plate will be available throughout the entire state of Kentucky.
The new plate initiative has been spearheaded by the Bourbon Capital Alliance. The new plate was initially concepted, designed and subsequently approved by the state in 2020. Originally concepted by Frank Hibbs, Bardstown City Councilman and Bourbon Capital Alliance board chair, the Bardstown special license plate pays homage to Bardstown’s unrivaled bourbon heritage and history.
“It’s been a labor of love for Sam Lacy and I and everyone involved in the Bourbon Capital Alliance,” said Frank Hibbs. “I’m proud to say that this is the first license plate in the state to have a town/city name on it – our name. This is another feather in the cap for Bardstown.”
“This was a fantastic idea from our board chair Frank Hibbs,” added Executive Director of the Bourbon Capital Alliance Sam Lacy. “This Bardstown special license plate will serve as a mobile marketing piece. We hope that our residents will take pride in our bourbon heritage and history and purchase this plate. Bardstown and bourbon are one and the same. We’re very proud to be able to say that Bardstown has the very first town/city license plate in Kentucky history.”
Funds Raised by the Bardstown Plate will Go Toward a Kentucky Spirits Scholarship
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The Bardstown special license plate will be available online and at any vehicle registration office throughout Kentucky beginning in 2024. The Bourbon Capital Alliance will establish a scholarship program for Nelson County residents to the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits at the University of Kentucky. This two-year certificate program is designed to educate those students interested in a future in the distilling industry.
“We’re excited to partner with the James B. Beam Distilling Co. and the University of Kentucky to establish this scholarship program using our Bardstown special license plates revenues,” said Lacy. “We have a lot of talented students from Nelson County studying at the University of Kentucky; using these scholarships, we’re excited to help educate a new cohort of distilling talent that will come home to Nelson County and work in our legendary distilleries for decades to come.”
The Bourbon Capital Alliance is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Bardstown, Kentucky. Since its inception in 2017, the organization has worked to build additional bourbon experiences and events, improve the visual presence of bourbon around Bardstown/Nelson County, and build upon the legacies and pervasive culture of bourbon.
What is the Official State Drink of Kentucky?
Now that we know Kentucky will have a license plate to celebrate the state’s amber spirit how else could Kentucky celebrate bourbon?
Q: What is the state drink of Kentucky?
A: If you guessed bourbon, you would be wrong. In 2005 Kentucky designated milk as the official state drink.
And how to Kentuckians drink their bourbon? Responsibly of course. Cheers!
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