Heaven Hill to build $135 million Bourbon distillery
U.S.-based Heaven Hill Brands has unveiled plans to open a $135 million bourbon distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, by 2024.
The new state-of-the-art distillery will increase the brand’s distilling capacity and mark Heaven Hill’s return to distilling in Bardstown.
In 1996, a fire destroyed the brand’s distillery, seven warehouses and nearly 100,000 barrels of whiskey. After the fire, Heaven Hill established its distilling base in Louisville, Kentucky, while bottling, whiskey aging and other functions continued in Bardstown.
“The people of Bardstown have helped us create and build our brands over all these years, so it’s a special homecoming to bring distilling back to this community,” said Max Shapira, president of Heaven Hill.
“Our new distillery will honor our long-standing roots in Bardstown, while applying state-of-the-art equipment and processes to produce the highest quality American whiskey and build on our significant partnership with Bardstown and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
The new distillery will be built on a 61-acre site on Old Bloomfield Pike, with construction to begin this spring.
Initial production is planned at 150,000 barrels of bourbon per year, and will have the capacity to produce 450,000 barrels over time.
“Bourbon making is an ancient art, but we are applying forward-thinking approaches to ensure we are environmentally conscious and a good neighbor,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill’s master distiller.
“Heaven Hill’s tradition of distilling with attention to detail, quality and craftsmanship will now be even more accessible as we grow our distilling heritage in Bardstown.”
Heaven Hill will continue to age Bourbon at the existing facility, and the Bernheim distillery in Louisville will continue to operate at full capacity.
Earlier this year, the company acquired Samson & Surrey, owner of Ocho Tequila and Few Spirits, for an undisclosed sum.
Heaven Hill also opened a $19 million visitor center in 2021, with capacity for 900 whiskey lovers.
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