Season 3 | Episode 5 - In the Spirit of Bourbon: Fresh Bourbon with Tia and Sean Edwards
Featured Guest: Tia and Sean Edwards
A Gas Station, A Love Story, and a Bourbon Revolution
Have you ever felt that the exclusive and elitist world of bourbon was out of reach? If so, the story of Fresh Bourbon is sure to resonate with you. This Lexington-based distillery, founded by the power couple Tia and Sean Edwards, is on a mission to make bourbon accessible to everyone. Their journey is not just about crafting a drink but about reclaiming their place in an industry that hasn’t always been inclusive.
Their partnership began at a gas station — a chance encounter that blossomed into a love story, a family, and ultimately, a business. “Every Saturday, we're going to do something to date each other. In doing this business we do tastings on weekends…..we're tired on Saturdays, but we still are intentional about making sure that we still date each other,” Tia shares, describing a ritual that keeps them connected even amidst the demands of their work. It’s their way of staying close, no matter how busy life gets.
Tia and Sean’s vision for Fresh Bourbon goes far beyond the drink itself. They aim to create a product and a space that invites everyone — whether a seasoned bourbon enthusiast to a first-timer. And their tasting room? It’s a dream for anyone looking to experience bourbon “neat”. Their showroom is a vibey dream with caramel leather bar stools, marble floors, and golden velvet curtains that open with a flourish.
Sean, whose family history in Kentucky is as layered as the flavors in their bourbon, reflects on deeper roots within his lineage. He recalls his grandfather, who secretly sold alcohol on Sundays in defiance of Kentucky’s laws. After his passing, the business passed to Sean’s uncle, who, as Sean jokingly notes, would have gladly taken credit for everything they’ve built today. Sean cherishes his family connections to Kentucky’s bourbon industry legacy.
Fresh Bourbon is just getting started. Their dream? A 30,000-square-foot distillery that will elevate the bourbon experience to a whole new level. The pandemic delayed their plans, but it hasn’t dimmed their ambition.
So grab a glass, pour yourself some bourbon (Fresh, if you can), and tune in to this captivating and inspiring episode.
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And if you’ve enjoyed exploring bourbon and cocktailing along with us, we’d love for you to leave us a review.
Cheers … and Please Drink Responsibly!
Links:
Guests:
Tia and Sean Edwards, Founders Fresh Bourbon
https://www.instagram.com/freshbourbon/
Additional links + Special thanks to:
WEP - https://weeditpodcasts.com/
Liam E. Allen (original music) - @Liamea97
“It speaks to the relationship that African Americans have with so many different industries, because we are looked at and we see ourselves a lot of times so much as the consumer that we never look at ourselves as the owner.”
-Sean (minute 14:41)
Cocktail Recipe: Fresh Bourbon Old Fashioned!
One sugar cube, muddled in glass with dashes of Angostura bitters.
2.5oz Fresh Bourbon
Stirred.
Add large ice cube.
Orange peel & maraschino cherry garnish.
About our special guests
Sean and Tia Edwards
Co-Founders of Fresh Bourbon
Sean and Tia Edwards are a power couple and the co-founders behind Fresh Bourbon, one of the only African American-led distilleries in Kentucky. Established in 2017, Fresh Bourbon aims to make this classic spirit more accessible to drinkers of all kinds. After five years of operation, Sean and Tia opened the Fresh Bourbon Tasting Room in downtown Lexington in September 2022. These innovative entrepreneurs have combined their skills and expertise to drive Fresh Bourbon’s success and growth. Tia brings decades of experience in sales, public relations, communications and advertising to promote Fresh Bourbon’s products. Meanwhile, Sean, implements his strong background in business development as the President of S and D Construction Management. Sean and Tia are both graduates from the University of Kentucky.
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