Heaven Hill fills first barrel at new distillery
Kentucky distillery Heaven Hill has started production at its Springs Distillery, nearly three decades after a fire destroyed its original site.
The new site brings Heaven Hill back to its original home of Bardstown, described as the ‘Bourbon capital of the world’. Since the fire, the brand has distilled at the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville while maintaining its bottling and ageing operations in Bardstown.
The brand first revealed plans to build a US$135 million distillery in 2022, however the project ultimately totalled US$200 million.
The site’s first barrel was filled earlier this week (7 April), with the full project to be completed by September.
The company will celebrate its 90th anniversary in December 2025.
“Filling this first barrel is both a homecoming and a major step into the future of Heaven Hill,” said co-president Allan Latts. “The Heaven Hill Springs Distillery reflects our deep roots in Bardstown, our long-term commitment to American whiskey, and our investment in building for the next 90 years with care, intention and pride.”
The site will initially produce 150,000 barrels annually, with capacity for up to 450,000 barrels.
Past, present and future
Distillation will continue at the Bernheim Distillery, which the brand described as the ‘largest single-site Bourbon distillery in the country’. It produces whiskeys including Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection and Elijah Craig.
The Springs Distillery incorporates several sustainability measures, including ‘highly efficient’ production systems, advanced wastewater pretreatment, stormwater management and habitat restoration. On-site energy creation and recovery systems are also intended to reduce environmental impact.
To commemorate the occasion, master distiller emeritus Charlie Downs was invited to serve as honorary master distiller for the day, leading up to the first barrel filling.
Downs is the only employee in the company’s history to have worked in operations at all four of Heaven Hill’s distilling sites: the original Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown where he began his career in the 1970s; the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville; the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distillery; and now the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.
Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill master distiller, said: “Filling this first barrel brings full circle a journey nearly 90 years in the making.
“Having Charlie here to mark this moment connects our heritage to our future in the most meaningful way. It reflects the craftsmanship and commitment of the Springs team, whose work brought this facility to life and set the tone for the next chapter of Heaven Hill whiskey.”
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