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Historic Old Taylor Bourbon Distillery to reopen
Kentucky’s historic Old Taylor Distillery, which has been mothballed for more than 40 years, is to be restored.
The historic Old Taylor Distillery will be reopend after more than 40 years
Local company Peristyle LLC will invest US$6.1 million in renovating the 125-year-old building, based in Woodford County.
Peristyle, a company recently formed by two Kentucky businessmen, bought the distillery for US$950,000, according to the Lexington Herald.
The company will spend the next 18 months restoring the 83-acre complex with the hope it will become fully operational, distilling Bourbon and other spirits, by 2015.
“The Old Taylor Distillery is one of the most remarkable landmarks in central Kentucky,” said Will Arvin, an executive at Peristyle.
“We believe that in the context of growth in demand for Kentucky-produced spirits worldwide, its location in the heart of the most productive Bourbon distilling region and the need for additional food and hospitality options in an area experiencing growing tourism, this one-of-a-kind property holds great promise to become a prime destination for tourists and Kentuckians alike.”
Old Taylor was the first distillery to reach one million US Government certified cases of straight Bourbon and is said to have one of the world’s largest stills as well as one of the longest Bourbon warehouses.
The facility, which includes a colonnaded spring house, sunken gardens, a fish pond and limestone buildings, closed in 1972 due to a drop in demand, falling into severe disrepair.
Peristyle will restore key buildings and areas in phases so the location can be opened for tourism and events. Once the distillery is fully renovated, 10 full-time Jobs will be created.
“This is exciting news on so many levels,” said Kentucky governor Steve Beshear. “Not only will Peristyle’s investment further solidify Kentucky’s bourbon legacy and create more jobs, but it also signals the renaissance of one of the state’s most historic and iconic distilleries.”
Last month, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority gave preliminary approval for as much as $250,000 in tax incentives for the project
Bourbon distilling contributes nearly £2 billion in gross state product each year, while Kentucky in particular exported $383 million of distilled spirits in 2013, 21% of the US total.