Old Kentucky Chocolates

Family-owned artisan chocolate shop in Lexington since 1964

Old Kentucky Chocolates is a family-owned company based in Lexington, Kentucky, dedicated to the artisan crafting of gourmet chocolates and candies. Founded in 1964 by Don and Pam Hurt, the company began as a small workshop in the back room of a bakery and has grown into a family business with five locations in Lexington. Today, the company remains in the hands of the family: the founders have been joined by Don's niece, Julia Kirkpatrick, his nephew Bill Hurt, and great-nephew and great-niece Will and Katie Hurt.

Small-batch crafting and Kentucky roots

The company produces gourmet chocolates in small batches, using fresh, high-quality ingredients, maintaining an artisan approach based on creativity, patience, and mastery of the craft. The brand's identity is tied to Kentucky: the company notes that the family has lived in the state for more than 200 years and that it makes its products in Lexington, an area it describes as the Horse Capital of the World, the heart of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and the Bluegrass Region.

The first product the company made in 1964 was the Bourbon Chocolate, and since then the catalog has grown to include gourmet truffles, sea salt caramels, chocolate-covered strawberries and grapes, and other varieties. The company maintains that each new product pursues the same goals: to create exquisite chocolates and to offer the best experience both in its stores and online.

Chocolate and candy catalog

The catalog shown on the site includes specific items with their prices:

• Fleur de Sel Sea Salt Caramels: $14.50
• Bourbon Cherries: $16.50
• Chocolate Covered Potato Chips: $14.50
• Derby Mints: $15.50
• Assorted Truffles: $15.99

Among the specialties cited by the company are also the Thoroughbreds, made with chopped roasted pecans, covered in a bed of creamy caramel, and enrobed in both milk and dark chocolate, as well as chocolate-covered strawberries and grapes and a line of sugar-free chocolate.

Corporate gifting and fundraising

The company sells its products as gifts for individuals and businesses. Its offerings include corporate gifting, aimed at employee appreciation and client gifts, and fundraising programs for schools and organizations, which the company describes as simple, fun, and profitable thanks to handmade, locally sourced chocolates.

Five Lexington locations and online sales

Old Kentucky Chocolates operates five locations in Lexington: Southland Drive, Hamburg, Palomar, Lansdowne, and Citation Point. Customers can shop in-store or purchase a selection of products online.