A featured ingredient of the famed mint julep, bourbon is as synonymous with Kentucky as horses. Both are key components of the Bluegrass State’s economy. Bourbon is a $9 billion industry, and the state is home to 100 distilleries owned by 84 companies producing 95% of the global bourbon supply. This golden spirit is powering an industry that employs more than 23,000 people, opening up opportunities for underrepresented populations to make their own mark on this uniquely American phenomenon.