Award-Winning Kentucky Craft Distillery Now Available in Over 100 Retail Locations Across the Southeast
Athens, GA (PRUnderground) June 23rd, 2026
Southern Kentucky Distillery (SKD), an award-winning craft distillery based in Burkesville, Kentucky, has announced a distribution partnership with Beverage South, a division of J&L Ventures, LLC. The partnership brings SKD’s full portfolio of Kentucky-made spirits to retail locations, restaurants, and bars across Georgia and South Carolina through all eight Beverage South distribution centers.
A Growing Footprint in the Southeast
Since launching the partnership, SKD has already established relationships with more than 100 retail partners across Georgia and South Carolina. With additional locations onboarding each week.
Beverage South operates distribution centers in Albany, Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Griffin, Macon, and Rome in Georgia, as well as in Columbia, South Carolina. The distributor carries a roster of nationally and internationally recognized brands, and SKD now joins that lineup.
“Partnering with Beverage South gives us the infrastructure to reach customers across two states in a way we couldn’t do on our own,” said Kevin Dailey, co-founder of Southern Kentucky Distillery. “We’ve spent years building products we’re proud of. Now, with Beverage South behind us, those products are reaching shelves and menus throughout the Southeast. For a small distillery out of Cumberland County, that’s a big deal.”
Award-Winning Recognition
The partnership comes at a time of growing national recognition for SKD. The distillery’s Long Ridge High Rye Bourbon earned a Double Gold Medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named one of the world’s best small-batch bourbons by Forbes Magazine. SKD’s Turby’s Cherrywood Bourbon also received a Gold Medal at the same competition in both 2025 and 2026.
These accolades have helped fuel demand for SKD products beyond the distillery’s home state of Kentucky.
Rooted in Kentucky, Built for Growth
Founded in 2022 by three local partners, Junior Cecil, Dr. Michael Wilson, and Kevin Dailey. SKD produced the first legal bourbon in Cumberland County since Prohibition ended there in 2016. The distillery is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains between Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow Lake, and the Cumberland River.
SKD is a member of the Kentucky Distillers Association and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and currently operates two bonded storage warehouses, with a 19,000-barrel warehouse under construction. The distillery also offers year-round tours and tastings at its Burkesville facility.
Country music artist Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry serves as the distillery’s brand ambassador, supporting product awareness across key markets.
About Beverage South
Beverage South is a division of J&L Ventures, LLC, operating distribution centers across Georgia and South Carolina. The company distributes a wide portfolio of beverage brands to retailers, restaurants, and bars throughout the region. For more information, visit bevsouth.com.
About Southern Kentucky Distillery
Southern Kentucky Distillery is a craft distillery in Burkesville, Kentucky, producing a range of bourbon, whiskey, vodka, and moonshine products. The distillery’s portfolio includes Long Ridge High Rye Bourbon, Turby’s Cherrywood Bourbon, Broadhead Bourbon, Mad Monkey Cinnamon Whiskey, Groovy Voodoo Peanut Butter Whiskey, Ancient Sun Vodka, and Slate Fork Moonshine. SKD products are available online in more than 40 states and through on-the-ground distribution in Kentucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Florida, and additional markets. For more information, visit skdistillery.com.
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