The Distillery District in Lexington, Ky., has a new hotel. The Manchester, housed in the former historic Ashland Distillery—Lexington’s inaugural registered bourbon producer—melds Kentucky’s rich history with a fresh and modern approach.
Nik Feldman and Hank Morris developed and now operate the 125-room property. They teamed up with interior designer Jenny Bukovec, formerly of the Rockwell Group, to curate the hotel’s aesthetic. The exterior sports a “Rickhouse Revival-style” masonry façade inspired by the local bourbon rickhouses.
Design details include handmade bejmat tiles, amber-toned fluted glass, Bluegrass-inspired barrel vault plaster ceilings and equestrian-themed leather details. Public spaces include a bespoke bottle shop with a curated selection of local bourbons and ryes, a lobby bar, a lounge and two dining and drinking venues. Granddam, the hotel’s main restaurant, has a menu of Appalachian-inspired dishes. Lost Palm, an Art Deco rooftop bar and lounge, pays tribute to the 1960s South Florida horse-racing culture with a selection of reinvented classic American cocktails.
The Manchester is surrounded by a growing hub of bourbon distilleries, breweries, bars, restaurants and event spaces. In addition, Lexington has more than 450 horse farms, the Kentucky Horse Park, the historic Keeneland racetrack, International Museum of the Horse and the University of Kentucky’s Rupp Arena and Central Bank Center.