Post-Security location provides opportunity for visitors to travel with bourbon
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 19, 2017) – Blue Grass Airport on Wednesday welcomed local retailer Cork & Barrel as its latest partner in enhancing the passenger experience.
Local officials and community members gathered for the opening of Cork & Barrel’s bourbon and fine wine retail shop, conveniently located post-security in the gate area of the airport. With more than 100 bourbons in the shop, passengers will be able to travel with the finest spirits from Kentucky’s iconic distilleries.
“Bourbon is one of Kentucky’s best-known products and visitors from around the world travel to the Bluegrass region to tour our bourbon distilleries. Since many of these visitors fly through Blue Grass Airport, we are pleased that this signature industry is now a part of our passenger experience,” said Eric Frankl, executive director of Blue Grass Airport. “Upon exiting TSA’s security checkpoint and prior to boarding their flight, visitors will have the opportunity to shop at Cork & Barrel’s convenient concourse location to bring a taste of Kentucky home with them in their carry-on luggage. We look forward to working with the Cork & Barrel team to make this new shop a success.”
Located next to LEX News & Gifts on the second floor of Blue Grass Airport, Cork & Barrel’s storefront showcases Kentucky’s bourbon heritage with a bourbon rick displaying more than 30 barrels from regional distilleries. The rick was built using timbers from the historic Old Crow Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, and it mimics the appearance of the wooden rick structures used in distilleries to hold barrels during the aging process.
“As we designed our store, we wanted to recognize the historic contribution that the bourbon industry has made to Kentucky,” states Jim Taylor, owner of Cork & Barrel. “We’ve built a stunning display keeping it as authentic as possible. We also wanted to be as inclusive as possible, reaching out to not only the large distillers but also to many of the small craft bourbon makers who help bring new ideas and innovation to one of Kentucky’s signature industries.”
Working with master distillers, special “barrel picks” are personally being selected by Cork & Barrel and offered for sale. Less than 200 bottles are typically filled from a single barrel and are branded with special labels. These unique, one-of-a-kind bourbons cannot be bought elsewhere and will be an exclusive treat for passengers at Blue Grass Airport. In addition to bourbon, fine wines from across the country will be offered as well as bourbon-themed products such as jewelry, apparel and culinary products.
Cork & Barrel’s airport location will be open daily. A boarding pass is required for entry through TSA security checkpoint. For those who are not traveling, Cork & Barrel also offers a convenient location at 2263 Nicholasville Road in Lexington, Ky.
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