BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Heaven Hill, the largest independent distiller in the U.S., is deepening its bourbon roots soon with a new facility in Bardstown.
What You Need To Know
- Heaven Hill is building a new distillery in Bardstown
- The company's former distillery in the town was destroyed by a fire in 1996
- The $135 million facility should be operational by the end of 2024
The family-owned company on Wednesday announced its plans for a new $135 million distillery to open by 2024. The facility marks the company's return from the ashes after the 1996 Bardstown fire that destroyed their distillery, several rickhouses and nearly 100,000 barrels of whiskey.
Heaven Hill moved distilling operations to the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville after the fire, but bottling and aging functions remained in the Bardstown area.
“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.
The site will occupy a currently-vacant 61 acre site at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike. Construction will begin this spring and operations will begin by the end of 2024, Heaven Hill said in a news release.
The company estimates the Bardstown facility will produce 150,000 barrels in its first year, with capabilities to ramp up production to 450,000 barrels over time. The Louisville distillery will remain open, Heaven Hill said.
Heaven Hill produces some of the biggest names in bourbon and whiskey, including Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Larceny and Old Fitzgerald.