Old Forester Distillery site narrowly avoids blaze

Brown-Forman expects work on its new distillery for Old Forester Bourbon to continue unhindered after the site narrowly avoided a blaze that broke out in Kentucky’s Whiskey Row this week.

Brown-Forman expects work on building its new Old Forester Distillery to continue unhindered after a blaze engulfed nearby buildings

A team of 85 firefighters battled to control flames that engulfed three buildings on Louisville’s Whiskey Row, on West Main Street, situated adjacent to the site earmarked for Old Forester’s new US$45 million distillery.

According to WDRB, Brown-Forman issued a letter to its employees claiming that the fire spread in the opposite direction to the two buildings that will house the Old Forester Distillery and Visitor Experience.

The group confirmed that its buildings suffered “little damage” and that its construction plans remain “unchanged” pending the inspection of structural engineers.

Brown-Forman will continue its preliminary work and plans to break ground on building the distillery this summer.

However the group added in its letter: “The timing of that event could change based on the condition of both our buildings and the three other buildings involved in the fire, but as of now we do not know of any reasons to change our plans to develop the Old Forester Distillery on Whiskey Row.”

Brown-Forman said its buildings may have been spared from the fire thanks to the recent stabilisation of their structures by Main Street Revitalisation – an organistion created to purchase and save Whiskey Row from demolition in which Brown-Forman is an investor.

While the three adjacent buildings suffered heavy damage, it is hoped their historic facades can be preserved.

A cause for the fire has not yet been confirmed, but it is thought no one was injured.

Plans for Old Forester’s new distillery and “Bourbon experience” in Louisville, Kentucky, were first unveiled in September last year.

Brown-Forman initially said it would invest US$30m in the project – which will double current capacity of the Bourbon brand – but recently increased its investment to U$45m.

The group has secured the property deed for the historic 117 and 119 West Main Street buildings from Main Street Revitalization LLC for US$4.5m.

The Old Forester Distillery and Visitor Experience is expected to be operational by autumn 2016.