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Heaven Hill to build $135m Bourbon distillery
US-based Heaven Hill Brands has revealed plans to open a US$135 million whiskey 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 on-site distillery, seven rickhouses and almost 100,000 barrels of whiskey. Following the fire, Heaven Hill set up its distilling base in Louisville, Kentucky, while bottling, ageing of whiskey and other functions continued in Bardstown.
“The people of Bardstown have helped us create and build our brands over all these many 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 honour our long-time Bardstown roots while applying state-of-the-art equipment and processes to produce the highest quality American whiskey and build upon our meaningful partnership with Bardstown and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
The new distillery will be built on a 61-acre site at Old Bloomfield Pike, with construction to begin this spring.
Initial production is slated for 150,000 barrels of Bourbon a year, and will have capacity to ramp up to producing 450,000 barrels over time.
“Bourbon making is an old art, but we are applying forward-thinking approaches to ensure we are environmentally conscious and a good neighbour,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill 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 existing locations, and the Bernheim distillery in Louisville will continue to operate at full capacity.
Earlier this year, the company acquired Samson & Surrey, owner of Tequila Ocho and Few Spirits, for an undisclosed sum.
Heaven Hill also unveiled a US$19m visitor centre in 2021, with capacity for 900 whiskey lovers.