BARDSTOWN — Heaven Hill, the largest family owned and operated distillery in the U.S., has expanded.
The distiller, known for brands that include Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Larceny, and its namesake Heaven Hill, among others, has completed phase one of a $200 million expansion project in Bardstown.
“Needless to say, along the way, there were lots of ups and downs, changes in the industry, consumer tastes and a whole range of other things,” Max Shapira, executive chairman and second generation of the Heaven Hill family owners said Monday at a ceremonial filling of the first barrel at the new distillery. “Through sound judgement, listening to various individuals, and looking at the future, we were able to overcome all these things.”
The project was roughly five years in the making, bringing a new distillery, Heaven Hill Springs Distillery at 1355 E. John Rowan Blvd. in Bardstown to life. The distillery currently has one new state-of-the-art still, and company officials said the next two phases of expansion will bring in two more stills.
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“When you talk about relationships, there’s one that’s no more endearing than the relationship we have with Bardstown and Nelson County,” Shapira said. “This is another one of those great platforms on which we can build our business, not just today and not just tomorrow or next week or next month, but over the years and over the decades to come.”
This facility, which can flex from producing 150,000 to 450,000 barrels annually when operating at full capacity, brings increased opportunities for innovation and “maybe different mash bills,” said Heaven Hill Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. This level of production will essentially allow Heaven Hill to match its production capacity at its Bernheim Distillery in Louisville.
“It’s not just the distillery, but it’s a symbol of our view of the future of Kentucky bourbon,” said Heaven Hill Co-President Allan Latts. “This facility is a cornerstone of our long-term vision to grow with purpose, to lead with quality and transparency and to ensure that Heaven Hill remains … an independent, family-owned leader for generations to come.”
The facility is a “working distillery that visitors can come to, not a tourist attraction that makes whiskey,” creates a level of transparency for the brand and introduces those who are curious to the true intricacies associated with distilling bourbon, O’Driscoll said. The distillery is expected to have its grand opening in September.