Locally-Made KY Products Perfect for Gifts
When completing your holiday gift shopping this year, why not purchase a few locally made products? Kentuckians from Paducah to Pikeville make unique items that showcase the heart of the Bluegrass. Jot down a few of the items below on your gift-giving list, and who knows, you might even find a gift for yourself! But don’t just stop at this list – check out our calendar to find local arts and craft fairs as well as Make It, Take It classes around your neck of the woods for that one-of-a-kind gift on your list.
HANDCRAFTED ITEMS
Handcrafted items, whether it’s a work of art, candle, musical instrument, ornament, soap, etc., are great locally-made gift options. Show someone on your list that you truly care by selecting something that fits their interests while supporting a local craftsman at the same time. Make it, Take It workshops are relatively new but add a special element when you give a gift because you actually craft the gift yourself. Make It, Take It classes are offered across the state, from Berea to Paducah.
TICKETS
Gift a Kentucky-made experience this holiday season by giving tickets to Kentucky attractions and museums that celebrate people, places or things made in Kentucky. It’s a great way to gift a special experience this holiday season versus a tangible gift that may or may not be what was on a person’s wish-list. There are numerous museums around the state celebrating Kentucky’s history and culture, from the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro to the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, the Newport Aquarium to the Creation Museum in Petersburg, the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green to the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, the National Quilt Museum in Paducah to Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea, and the list goes on.
TASTY TREATS
From Ale-8-One - the ginger-based citrus soda in a green bottle - to beer cheese, Kentucky culinary treats offer a great gift for anyone. It’s one of those iconic Kentucky dishes that is a must-try. You can purchase beer cheese, order at a restaurant or make your own! (If you make your own for gifts, consider making it even more authentic by using beer from one of Kentucky’s 40+ craft breweries.) Wrap it up with some crackers, pretzels and veggies on a cute holiday platter and voilà, you’ve got a great hostess gift or an appetizer for a party.
KENTUCKY SPIRITS
As most Kentuckians will tell you, a bottle of bourbon is a great gift for anytime of the year, not just Christmas. Thankfully, we have plenty of bourbon to spare – it is our signature spirit after all. Pick up a bottle (or two, or three, we won’t judge!) at your favorite distillery. If you’re searching for a unique way to gift bourbon, consider giving bourbon balls, or crafting your own holiday treat with bourbon as an ingredient. If you’re after a bourbon experience for your gift recipient, plan a trip along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®, or Urban Bourbon Trail®
Another option for those over 21 on your holiday shopping list, is a bottle of Kentucky wine. Kentucky has more than 65 vineyards and wineries that produce delicious, award-winning wines for any palate. From fruity to oaky, sweet to dry, and everything in between, there’s quite a selection of locally-made bottles for wine beginners and aficionados alike.
HORSES
A horse, of course! Isn’t that what every little kid wants for Christmas? While Kentucky is known for breeding top-notch horses, unfortunately not everyone has the yard (or pasture) to accommodate a horse. If someone on your Christmas list loves horses, why not gift them with an equine experience instead? Central Kentucky is home to several beautiful horse farms, some of which are a part of the Visit Horse Country experience; you can purchase tour tickets to give them an insider’s look at a local, working horse farm. Or, support a local stable and purchase horseback riding lessons. And don’t forget, a visit to the Kentucky Horse Park is always a hit for horse lovers, especially at Christmas time with their drive-through light tour.