KY Inno's 2023 Holiday Gift Guide

KY Inno is highlighting several Kentucky-made products in its latest gift guide.

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By Haley Cawthon - Assistant managing editor—digital

November 28, 2023, 06:43am EST

There's always a hard-to-shop-for person on my Christmas list.

Every year, I trudge through crowded retail stores and scour the far corners of the internet for ideas. But when nothing piques my interest, my default thought is to find something local.

Selfishly, that's why I love putting together these KY Inno holiday gift guides. I did one in 2021, and after seeing this year's national startup gift guide, I've been inspired to create an updated version.

Even if you've already found the perfect gifts for everyone on your list, it's a fun way to get to know startups across the commonwealth.

For the casual bourbon drinker

Ponyboy Slings

Ponyboy Slings comes in three flavors. In this photo, My Cherry Amour and Derby Cream Soda can be seen.

Ponyboy Slings, Inc.

Ponyboy Slings, a canned bourbon-based craft cocktail, landed on Total Wine & More shelves this year. Founded by Louisville couple Mike and Janell Bass in 2021, the brand offers three flavors: Bourbon Popstar (bourbon with dry vermouth, strawberry juice, lemon bitters and natural flavors), Derby Cream Soda (bourbon with sherry, aromatic bitters and natural flavors) and My Cherry Amour (bourbon with dry vermouth, sour black cherry juice, aromatic bitters and natural flavors).

Price: $18.49 for a four pack

For the non-bourbon drinker

Rivergreen Cocktails

Rivergreen Cocktails comes in three flavors: Bee's Knees (featuring honey), Greyhound (grapefruit juice) and Gimlet (lime juice).

Stephen P. Schmidt

Rivergreen Cocktails, founded by OBGYN Danielle Mann in 2020, offers a line of gin drinks made here in Louisville. You can find the Bee’s Knees (gin, lemon, honey and sparkling water), Gimlet (gin, lime juice, cane sugar and sparkling water) and Greyhound (gin, red grapefruit juice and sparkling water) at Kroger and Total Wine & More.

Price: $12.49 for a four pack

For the best dressed

New Frontier

New Frontier co-founders — and brothers —Joshua Ravenscraft, left, and Jared Ravenscraft pose with their company's latest offering: circular denim jeans.

Emma Delevante

Morehead, Kentucky-based New Frontier is focused on sustainable fashion, unveiled a new line of recycled denim jeans this year. The apparel company, founded by brothers Joshua and Jared Ravenscraft, also offers hoodies, flannels, T-shirts and, most recently, a hat designed by Grammy-winning bassist J.T. Cure, who plays with Chris Stapleton.

Price: $79 for jeans

For the outdoorsy

The Cooler Keg

The Cooler Keg is a e-commerce startup based in Covington, Kentucky. Its portable draft system, which fits in a standard-size cooler, caters to both business-to-consumer and business-to-business clientele.

The Cooler Keg

The Cooler Keg, founded by Anthony Bernas and Racine Gruberman in Northern Kentucky, is ultra-portable draft bar built into a classic-sized picnic cooler. Its wide-mouth kegs can hold virtually any beverage, from beer to cocktails, seltzers, kombucha, soft drinks and more.

Price: $749 (preorder)

For the fitness fanatic

Derby Fit

Derby Fit's recovery protein blend can be used in water, milk, almond milk or in a smoothie.

Derby Fit

The Derby Fit website (derbyfit.com) launched on Black Friday 2022 with one product: a protein recovery custom powder in a pineapple flavor offering. The powder, its co-founder Jessica Morgan said, is meant to either be mixed in with water, milk or almond milk, but it can also be put into a smoothie.

Price: $59.99

For the on-the-go

Besk

JoCari Beattie is pictured with the folded, portable version of Besk, which is a combination of a backpack and desk.

Brandon Hudson at Eight 18 Studios

Besk, created by JoCari Beattie, founder of Louisville-based JoBe Products, is exactly what its name implies: a backpack that can fold out into a desk. The product officially launched earlier this year with more than 300 pre-orders after one of Beattie's demonstration videos went viral on Instagram.

Price: $249.99

For the caffeinated

Wild Seed

Maya Van Irvin, founder of Wild Seed Coffee.

Kennisha Fisher at Once Upon a Flash

Wild Seed, one of the members of Wild Accelerator's 2023 cohort, offers a CBD-infused black tea. Maya Van Irvin, a graduate of Brown University, founded the company in October 2022 with a passion for CBD, equity and public health.

Price: $28.99

For the (super) foodie

Better Blend

Better Blend specializes in crafting smoothies called “Blends” and bowls with healthy ingredients that are low in calories, fat, carbs and sugar.

Better Blend Nutrition

Better Blend, a smoothie shop chain that got its start in Florence, Kentucky, in 2018, is expanding rapidly, including a new location on Shelbyville Road in Louisville. It also has a location in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. Founder Isaac Hamlin was named the Kentucky Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023.

Price: Gift card prices vary.