Dixon Dedman
Dixon Dedman’s story reads like a novel of family, legacy, and reinvention, set in the heart of Kentucky’s bourbon country. Born in 1982, Dixon was raised in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, where his family has been the proprietors of the palatial Beaumont Inn since 1917. The Inn is a historic lodging and dining property that has stood since 1845. Over 180 years later, the Dedman family, fifth- and sixth-generations of the original owners, continues the traditions of hospitality at the site. Growing up, Dixon watched his whole family, especially his parents, commit to the rich stories of bourbon there. Summers at the Inn and work in its taverns and restaurants shaped his understanding of warmth, service, and Southern tradition. In 2003, Dixon earned his degree in English and sociology from Wofford College, then promptly returned to his roots in Harrodsburg.
In addition to the Beaumont Inn, in 1879, Charles Mortimer Dedman, Dixon’s great-great-grandfather, also established the bourbon brand Kentucky Owl (“The Wise Man’s Bourbon”). The whiskey was popular and very well received, but like many fine spirits, it was shuttered when Prohibition struck in 1916. The brand lay dormant until Dixon stepped in 98 years later in 2014. At that time, Dedman revived the “Kentucky Owl” moniker, procured a small group of investors, and began to restore the distillery. Soon, the Master Blender hand-selected barrels to create a barrel-proof straight bourbon, reviving not only the distillery's name but its legacy. Dixon had found his calling, and the results began to speak for themselves: the first 1,250 bottles sold out in just ten days, at prices ranging from $175 to a hefty $350. Dixon emphasized purity: no water added, with consumers deciding their preferred dilution—a hallmark of premium craft. With Kentucky Owl, Dixon’s mission went beyond revival; he aimed for acclaim. He engineered bold, high-proof blends, selling out time and again and earning praise for flavor, depth, and complexity, as well as the status of moving into the coveted (and profitable) “allocated” category at most outlets. Awards began to pile up quickly—In Dedman’s first year out of the gate, Kentucky Owl was named 2014's “Best Drink” in Garden & Gun magazine's ‘Made in the South’ awards. Then, three years later, Dedman’s first batch of rye whiskey received 95 points from Whisky Advocate. It was also widely considered the best rye whiskey of the year. In less than five years, Kentucky Owl had gained considerable notoriety and a strong following, with some aficionados comparing it to Pappy Van Winkle.
The label’s success also began to get the attention of large investors. In 2017, the Stoli Group, headquartered in Luxembourg but wanting to get onto the red-hot bourbon bandwagon, acquired Kentucky Owl for an undisclosed amount, giving the brand global reach. Stoli immediately announced a grand plan to invest $150 million to build “Kentucky Owl Park” in Bardstown and purchased an abandoned 420-acre stone quarry. Plans included a 21st-century design with a new distillery and visitor center, pyramid-shaped buildings, a train station, an entertainment venue, visitor accommodations, and more. In 2019, Stoli broke ground on the site and began building what was then nicknamed “Bourbon Disney World.”
After the Stoli buyout, Dixon stayed on for four years, shepherding Kentucky Owl through the transformation. After departing in 2021, he quickly launched a new bourbon line named “2XO” (“Two‑Times‑Oak”), featuring creative double‑oak aging, and including releases like the Icon Series and Gem of Kentucky.
Plans for Stoli’s Dream Park now seem to have wilted. The excavated quarry has been abandoned again and has since filled with rainwater. In 2024, the spirits behemoth unfortunately found itself with financial issues. This has sparked recent hearsay that Dedman would buy Kentucky Owl and the family name back, but that rumor has not been verified as of 2025.
Dixon is married to Elizabeth Dedman, and together they have three small children, all of whom often participate in life at the Beaumont Inn, just like their ancestors did. In addition to his young family, Dixon has many other interests, which include marathon running, artisan food, and sneaker collecting. He is thrilled that his life balances between blending world-class whiskies and raising the next generation of Dedmans.
Under Dixon’s leadership, Kentucky Owl became synonymous with bold, barrel-proof expressions, branching into commemorative bottles like ‘Confiscated’ and high-end celebratory bourbon like ‘Dry State 100th Anniversary’. Kentucky Owl still blends craftsmanship and innovation: double-oak-aged Icon Series, everyday Oak Series, premium Gem releases, and collaborative limited editions with Irish and Japanese blenders. Though the Kentucky Owl brand itself has entered a new phase under Stoli’s stewardship, Dixon’s influence endures in every barrel-proof expression, in every double-oaked pour, and in the ongoing narrative of Kentucky whiskey.
Dixon Dedman is a man who honors tradition while shaping its future—one creative blend at a time. His journey charts a remarkable arc—from growing up working at the Beaumont Inn, to resurrecting a family bourbon brand, to pioneering new styles in the industry. His story is one of devotion: to ancestors, to craft, and most importantly, to his children.
Sources:
Whiskey Advocate, Julia Higgins, April 2023
Whiskey Advocate, Sam Stone, October 2020
Wofford College Newspaper, Jo Ann Mitchell Brasington, May 2015
American Whiskey Magazine, “The Story of Kentucky Owl”, Phoebe Calver, March 2023
Distillery Trail blog, November 2024.
Contributed by Tracy McLemore, Fairview, Tennessee
