What happens when a glassblower moves to Kentucky? Fire & Flask!
I promise this isn’t the start of a joke—it’s the actual, real story behind one of Kentucky’s newest, and most unique micro distilleries: Fire and Flask Distillery.
So… What is Fire and Flask Distillery?
After relocating to the beautiful state of Kentucky, Ryan and Holly Lewand settled into new jobs and established new connections. Ryan’s enthusiasm for bourbon led to an intense study of the craft of distilling at a local Northern Kentucky distillery. As his passion and skills grew, Ryan decided it was time to take the leap and create something of his own.
Ryan—a bourbon enthusiast and a skilled glassblower—found a way to combine his two passions: glassblowing (Fire) and whiskey (Flask). Thus the Lewand’s launched Fire and Flask Distillery.
Wait… They launched their distillery? Where did they decide to build or did they buy an old factory? What kind of a still did they start with? Who was their distributor?
They launched without any of these. Yes, you read that right. Fire and Flask began distilling spirits without their own still or even building. Before you roll your eyes and mutter, “Oh great, another MGP product,” let me stop you right there—this is NOT MGP. These distillers did not outsource a drop of bourbon, not even their very first batch.
Ryan still distills at the same location where he learned the craft–putting in the blood, sweat, and tears every step of the way. Just because it’s not his equipment doesn’t mean it’s not his bourbon. Special thanks to Second Sight Spirits in Ludlow, KY for allowing Ryan to use their still and storage space to produce his own small bourbon batches.
Why Start Without a Building?
After sitting down with Ryan and Holly, it became clear that they are every day people, not bourbon royalty or heirs to whiskey empires. They did not inherit a distillery, a recipe, anything bourbon related. They are regular people who have an enthusiasm for this industry. And you know what everyday, hard-working people don’t have lying around? Millions of dollars for:
- a building
- a custom still
- tons of grains
- a distiller’s license
- distribution funding
But lack of capital did not stop them. Instead, they focused on creating a product that would set them apart…
Purple Bourbon?! Yes. Purple Bourbon.
You’ve seen red corn in Bloody Butcher blends. You’ve seen white corn and, of course, you’ve seen the standard yellow corn. But purple corn?
Fire and Flask threw a curveball and introduced “Didymium,” their purple corn bourbon—named after a violet-colored glass used by glassblowers to filter out the brightness of light and protect their eyes during the glassblowing process. The idea is that their Didymium bourbon will as they put it, “filter out the rest of the shelf so you get the best in flavor and quality.” The purple corn in their mash bill provides a sweeter, fruitier flavor than most bourbons.
This unique color and flavor profile captures the essence of Fire and Flask. Ryan explained, “That’s what makes bourbon fun! It allows flexibility. You can play with mash bills and grains! This play, gives an abundance of tastes and experiences. And I plan to use as many as possible.” (Also, fun fact—purple’s his favorite color and this bourbon rocks the color chart!)
Fire and Flask isn’t trying to be the biggest. They’re trying to be the best. This is a small-scale distillery that prides itself on quality over quantity. Ryan put it best, “I’m trying to make a good but different product. I want to push boundaries and create new flavors.”
Why Haven’t I Heard of Them?
Because they are still tiny! So far, only three batches have been produced. For context, each batch yields three or four 15-gallon barrels. These barrels are then aged for a little over a year. But don’t let that discourage you! Thanks to the smaller barrel size, this bourbon delivers bold, advanced flavor. Right now, you can find their bourbon at Total Wine stores across the Bluegrass State.
When I asked Ryan and Holly what message they’d like readers to take away, their answer was perfect! “We’re a bourbon like no other—one of a kind. We’re craft, and we’re nothing like you’ve ever tasted or will ever taste.We are about being above average. Bourbon requires extra effort. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is exceptional enough to be bourbon. We want to be exceptional, enough to change the industry. ”
So What’s Next for Fire & Flask?
Ever been to Disney World? Well, forget Disney—Ryan and Holly’s dreams could put Walt to shame.
Here’s what they’re planning:
- A location maybe in Northern Kentucky, definitely on the Bourbon Trail
- A bed and breakfast
- Rickhouses as far as the eye can see
- And—get this—distillery cats, ADOPTABLE distillery cats
To help fund this vision, they launched a Founders Club. You can learn more and support them here:
fireandflaskdistillery.com/founders-club
Cigar Pairing Suggestions and Final Thoughts
This wouldn’t be a Cigar Public article without cigar pairings, right?
When asked which cigars they’d recommend, Ryan and Holly suggested a nice, medium-bodied, naturally sweet cigar. I am thinking Foundation The Wise Man Maduro or Silent Hero Maverick Candela.
I hope you learned something new today. I can’t recommend Fire and Flask enough. Check them out, and if you are planning a trip to Northern Kenucky, be sure to stop Second Sight Spirits on the second Saturday of the month. You’ll find Ryan and Holly there for a Meet-N-Greet and you can hear their incredible passion firsthand.
Until then, remember… Life asks many questions, but the answer is always To Cigar.
Logan Huddleston
Hello, my name is Logan Huddleston. I own and operate To Cigar, which provides cigar and alcohol content on all major social media platforms. My goal is to connect with and engage other GenZers to help them fall in love with cigars and cigar culture. I do reviews, memes, recipes, pairings, pretty much anything that connects with my audience. Most nights, I can be found with a cigar in one hand and a good drink in the other. Life brings us many questions, but I’m fond of saying, the answer is always To Cigar!
