Heaven Hill is to revive its whiskey production in its hometown of Bardstown, Kentucky by building a new $135 million distillery.
One of the world’s largest bourbon producers is getting even bigger. Heaven Hill has announced exciting plans this week to revive its whiskey production in its Kentucky hometown.
By 2024 a $135 million, state-of-the-art (you’d want the best for $135m, wouldn’t you?) distillery will fling open its fancy doors. If you weren’t aware, demand for Heaven Hill products is pretty darn high, so this increased capacity is very much needed. Initial production is slated for 10 million proof gallons a year, or 150,000 barrels, and will have the capacity to ramp up to producing 30 million proof gallons, or 450,000 barrels, over time. That’s over 1,200 barrels a day, effectively almost doubling its current capacity (which sits around 1,300 a day).
Heaven Hill will begin construction of the new distillery on a vacant 61-acre site at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike, off KY 245 this spring. The brand will continue to age bourbon at existing locations, and the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville will continue to operate at full capacity. The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approved incentives to support the Heaven Hill distillery project at its April meeting.
Oooh, a shiny new distillery
Back to Bardstown
More than a quarter-century ago a devastating fire sadly destroyed a previous production facility, which included a distillery, seven rickhouses, and almost 100,000 barrels of whiskey. After the 1996 fire, Heaven Hill’s distilling moved to the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, while bottling, aging of whiskey, and other functions continued in the Bardstown area where they remain today.
But now, nine decades since first operating a distillery in Bardstown, the largest independent, family-owned and operated distilled spirits supplier in the US is deepening its bourbon roots in its home community.
“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 honor 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.”
It’s very exciting stuff. Is anyone suddenly in the mood for some bourbon? I’m thinking Evan Williams. Or perhaps some Elijah Craig. We even have a Heaven Hill exclusive, come to think of it. Cheers!
