Public archaeology has found a home in Kentucky’s bourbon industry.

Bourbon is American’s oldest spirit. When it comes to the history of bourbon in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, there is a trail of tall tales. Lost beneath the layers of sediment and storytelling, Nick Laracuente has spent a decade unearthing new facts and authentic stories behind the barrels that true bourbon enthusiasts and tourists traversing Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail long to hear.

Watch this video about Nick Laracuente’s journey to become the Bourbon Archaeologist.

Watch on YouTube

Video Transcript

Nicolas Laracuente with a tape measure outdoors

Nicolas Laracuente inside brick distillery building

A few of the artifacts found during the dig at Bourbon Pompeii

People overlooking historical vats at the Buffalo Trace distillery

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1 / 6

From the Jack Jouett House Historic Site to numerous other sites, Nick is uncovering artifacts and lost stories from three centuries of bourbon distilling.
2 / 6

These sites and others on the Bourbon Trail are being toured by thousands of tourists and bourbon enthusiasts alike.
3 / 6

Bourbon Pompeii at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky is a one-of-a-kind archaeological site in the world.
4 / 6

A few of the artifacts found during the dig at Bourbon Pompeii.
5 / 6

Built by Colonial EH Taylor Jr, the “Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry,” fermenting vat # 8 was unearthed and put back into production.
6 / 6

American’s oldest spirit, barrels of bourbon are aging in warehouses across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

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