In 1865, Ashland Distillery became the first federally registered distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, and was assigned the distinction of RD#1. Later renamed the William Tarr Distillery, it was a powerhouse producer in the state until prohibition. In 2020, Lexington entrepreneurs, awe-struck by the stories of these bourbon firsts, formed a new brand, RD Spirits, to keep this historical charm alive and to help write the next chapter.