Brown-Forman ups Bourbon distillery investment

Brown-Forman has completed the purchase of a Louisville property to house its new Old Forester Distillery, which will cost the group US$15m more than originally announced.

Brown-Forman will now invest US$45m in a new distillery for its Old Forester Bourbon brand, US$15m more than originally pledged

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

Parent company Brown-Forman initially said it would invest US$30 million in the project – which will double current capacity of the Bourbon brand – but now claims it will spend 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.

Messer Construction has been selected as the managing contractor of the project, which will see the 55,000 square foot building transformed into a distillery with fermentation tanks, stills, a bottling hall and a cooperage.

The site will also feature a visitors’ centre, offering tours, a tasting room, Bourbon-production demonstrations and exhibitions. Brown-Forman claims the brick and masonry facade of the building will be preserved and fully restored during the project.

The properties at 117 and 119 West Main Street were built around 1857 and have been used for warehousing barrels of whiskey produced at numerous distilleries in the area.

At the time plans for the distillery were first announced, Paul Varga, CEO of Brown-Forman, said: “George Garvin Brown introduced Old Forester, America’s first bottled Bourbon, more than 140 years ago, which changed our industry and the Louisville community forever.

“We believe this will enrich Kentucky, the home of Bourbon, and Louisville, the historic home of Brown-Forman and the Brown family.”

Brown-Forman operated out of the 117 West Main Street building between 1900 and 1919 before moving to its current headquarters at 850 Dixie Highway.

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