Cedar Brook Viaduct Bridge Restoration Project.

I’m Bill McBrayer, President and owner of McBrayer Legacy Spirits, a brand dedicated to reintroducing WH McBrayer, “The Judge” and his world-famous Pre-Prohibition bourbons to a new generation of bourbon enthusiasts. WH McBrayer was a native son of Anderson County and Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. In addition to making some of Kentucky’s finest Bourbon in the 1800s (his brands were around for over 130 years), he also served as the first judge in Anderson County, was a State Senator, and was instrumental in bringing the railroad through Lawrenceburg. WH’s Distillery, DSP #44, overlooked Cedar Brook Creek. While the railroad line built in 1889 and used for about 100 years is no longer serviceable, there is an almost 2-mile-long trail on the site that extends over the Cedarbrook Viaduct. The beginning of the trail sits at the future site of the McBrayer Distilling Company, which will occupy a 130-acre parcel of land that sits adjacent to the property where WH McBrayer’s World Famous Cedar Brook Distillery once stood and ends just south of the Wild Turkey Distillery.

In June of 2024, city and county officials celebrated the opening of the first phase of the Cedarbrook Rails to Trails project. Having secured $240,000 in grant money from the Lawrenceburg/Anderson County Tourism Authority, the first phase of the trail now provides locals and visitors alike the opportunity to walk or bike while enjoying the incredibly beautiful natural surroundings. You don’t have to be a bourbon fan to enjoy the scenery, connect with community members, spend a serene afternoon with family or friends, and walk through some of the Bluegrass state’s historic land.

To complete the 2nd phase of the project, the City of Lawrenceburg needs to raise $500,000 to repair the 110 ft. tall, 800 ft. long expanse of the Cedarbrook Viaduct and connect the trail. Our family is committed to supporting this project, tourism in the area, and the community as a whole. Our 2024 release of CedarBrook Wheated Bourbon goes on sale in September. We are donating a portion of every bottle purchased online to this project. We are also seeking donations at large to help us in our endeavor to support the Rails to Trails project. We would love to present the City with a large portion of the funds needed for this amazing project. To learn more about McBrayer Legacy Spirts and the history of our Kentucky Bourbon brands, please visit www.McBrayerLegacySpirits.com. We hope you’ll add your name to the list of donors, and we hope to see you on the trail!

~W.G. McBrayer IV (Bill)