STIVERS, INDUSTRY LEADERS BRIDGE KENTUCKY’S URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH FOOD, FILM, HOSPITALITY, AND SIGNATURE INDUSTRY
Barrel selection at Heaven Hill celebrates culinary
tourism and new storytelling opportunities
FRANKFORT Ky. (Sept. 16, 2025) — Kentucky’s reputation as the birthplace of bourbon
set the stage today for a broader story about unity, culture, and the future of film and
tourism. Leaders from across the commonwealth gathered at Heaven Hill in Bardstown for
a special Elijah Craig barrel selection, bringing together voices from both Louisville and
Corbin in celebration of Kentucky’s shared identity.
Today’s event paired Hotel Distil co-owner Steve Poe of Louisville with The Wrigley owner
Kristin M. Smith of Corbin, who together selected a single barrel to be bottled under a
custom label. Joined by Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, Louisville Mayor
Craig Greenberg, Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus, and other industry leaders, the event
demonstrated how Kentucky’s urban and rural communities are united by more than
geography inside the state lines, but are bound by history, food, culture, hospitality, and the
storytelling opportunities all things Kentucky bring to the table.
Kentucky’s tourism industry is already delivering record results. According to the
economic impact of visitors to Kentucky in 2024, the sector generated $14.3 billion in
economic impact, supported more than 97,000 jobs, and welcomed 80 million visitors. It
was the third consecutive year of record-breaking growth. Much of that spending was for
food and drink as travelers invested $2.6 billion in Kentucky’s restaurants, farms, and
distilleries. These numbers indicate how events like today’s are more than ceremonial.
They reflect an economy where farm-to-table dining, hospitality, and cultural storytelling
drive growth across both our largest cities and our most rural communities.
That connection between small towns and big cities is mirrored in Louisville, where
bourbon is both an economic driver and a cultural identity.
Razmus reflected on the pride her community feels in being part of an event that highlights
both small-town heritage and statewide connection.
“This event is a wonderful opportunity to showcase two very distinct cities and the
restaurants that anchor them, highlighting not what separates us but what connects us, our
shared love of bourbon, food, and community,” she said. “Communities like Corbin are not
apart from Louisville, but tied to it. Together we reflect the best of Kentucky’s culture and
history, and together we share a story bigger than any one city. May today’s barrel selection
capture with every sip the spirit of unity and the traditions that connect us.”
Greenberg echoed that sentiment, speaking from the perspective of Kentucky’s largest city
and economic engine on the importance of collaboration across communities.
“As Kentuckians, we often say bourbon is in our blood, and nowhere is that more true than
in Louisville, where the industry fuels jobs, tourism, and our city’s global reputation,” he
said. “But the story does not stop here. Louisville’s success is tied to the hard work,
hospitality, and traditions of rural communities like Corbin and Bardstown, just as their
success is connected to ours. Together we are stronger, and together we are building a
Kentucky that honors its history while creating an even brighter future.”
Beyond government leaders, Kentucky’s chefs and restaurateurs are also central to this
story.
The day’s focus on food and hospitality exemplifies how deeply culinary traditions shape
the Kentucky experience. In Corbin, The Wrigley has built its reputation on sourcing the
freshest local ingredients with a rotating menu of craft beer, cocktails, and more than 60
Kentucky bourbons. Featured in Time Magazine, Food & Wine, and Forbes, The Wrigley has
become a destination for visitors who want an authentic taste of southeastern Kentucky.
“At The Wrigley, every dish tells the story of southeastern Kentucky farms and the people
behind them,” Smith said. “Farm-to-table dining in Corbin draws on the same traditions
that make bourbon country legendary—it’s about food and about connection,” said Smith.
“Kentucky’s culinary culture is driving tourism and showcasing the depth of rural places
like Corbin, where our landscape is both beautiful and vital to the food and bourbon that
defines our state.”
In Louisville, Hotel Distil stands as a modern landmark on historic Whiskey Row. Opened in
2019 as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the hotel features 205 luxury rooms, more
than 15,000 square feet of event space, and a celebrated restaurant, Repeal Oak Fired
Steakhouse. The property brings together Louisville’s historic bourbon heritage with
world-class hospitality.
“Louisville is known as the gateway to bourbon country, and at Hotel Distil we’re proud to
sit at the very heart of Whiskey Row on the Urban Bourbon Trail,” said Casey Grinold,
general manager of Hotel Distil. “Bourbon heritage is infused into every guest experience,
from our nightly 7:33 p.m. bourbon toast honoring the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, to the
curated design details and Repeal’s menu selections that tell Kentucky’s story. Partnering
Repeal with Elijah Craig, PORCH Kitchen, and The Wrigley extends that legacy beyond
Louisville, showcasing how urban and rural Kentucky comes together to create something
truly special. I couldn’t be more excited about this collaboration, which both celebrates our
heritage and strengthens tourism across the commonwealth.”
“By pairing two of Louisville’s iconic urban experiences with a rural gem like The Wrigley,
we celebrate not only Kentucky’s bourbon heritage but also its vibrant and evolving food
culture,” Poe said. “Together, these destinations showcase the depth and diversity of the
commonwealth, highlighting its appeal and inviting visitors to experience the very best of
what Kentucky has to offer.”
“Being part of this inaugural effort to bridge Kentucky’s urban and rural destinations is
deeply meaningful,” said David Green, general manager of Louisville Downtown Marriott
and president of the Louisville Hotel Association. “By sharing the story behind this
exclusive bourbon and connecting visitors to another remarkable corner of our
commonwealth, we’re offering an experience that extends well beyond Louisville and
Jefferson County.
“Through my work with the Louisville Hotel Association and Louisville Tourism, I’ve seen
firsthand how challenging and costly it can be to promote destinations,” Green added.
“Creating this partnership in conjunction with PORCH Kitchen allows for a community
restaurant, like The Wrigley, to access a private barrel selection of this caliber. More
importantly, it demonstrates how partnerships across regions not only strengthen our
hospitality industry, but also elevate Kentucky’s profile as a unified, world-class tourism
destination.”
This shared bourbon selection, carrying The Wrigley name and poured in both Louisville
restaurants and Corbin, turns Kentucky’s urban–rural connection into something visitors
can taste.
Kentucky’s growing role as a home for authentic storytelling has drawn national attention.
The You Belong Here series, co-created by Kentucky chefs and filmmakers, was featured at
the Tribeca Film Festival, showcasing how communities like Corbin are telling stories that
resonate far beyond the bluegrass state.
This momentum connects directly to Kentucky’s legislative priorities, including Senate Bill
1, which established the Kentucky Film Office within the Cabinet for Economic
Development. The office is designed to market the state as a premier filming destination,
streamline the permitting process, and support productions through the Kentucky
Entertainment Incentive Program.
Stivers framed the event as a showcase of Kentucky’s unique cultural assets, from natural
beauty to food and hospitality.
“For those of us who call Kentucky home, the blessings of this state are no surprise. But for
those visiting, even a small glimpse of our commonwealth is an exceptional experience,”
Stivers said. “The opportunities before us are great, with growth rooted in our signature
industries, our diverse landscapes, and our welcoming spirit. Kentucky has no shortage of
stories to tell, and we are ready to share them with the world.”
Today’s selection was about more than bourbon. It was about the story Kentucky is writing.
With film, food, and culture at the forefront, the commonwealth is proving that its future
lies in telling authentic stories that showcase both its urban energy and rural traditions.
“What begins in a barrel here in Bardstown will soon be poured for visitors in one of our
most urban centers and in one of our most rural communities,” Stivers added. “That’s the
spirit of Kentucky’s farm-to-table story. From field to kitchen, from still to glass, our work
connects people across the commonwealth and gives them a taste of who we are.”
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