Heaven Hill Brands has officially opened its recently-constructed distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, marking the company’s return to production in the locality after nearly three decades.
The US$200m Heaven Hill Springs Distillery began production in April with an initial capacity of 150,000 barrels per year, scalable to 450,000. It joins the group’s Bernheim, Louisville distillery in the state, and features a 60-foot copper still producing in the region of 33,000 proof gallons daily.
Environmental measures span renewable energy generation, wastewater pretreatment and stormwater management, alongside habitat restoration projects, the privately-owned group added.
To mark the opening, the company has released Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity, a limited bourbon containing liquid from “the last remaining barrel” of whiskey distilled at the original site in Bardstown in 1991. With an ABV of 53.5%, the one-off expression is on sale exclusively onsite for $225.
The distillery will also host the ‘Heritage Rising Tour’ from 8 September, offering visitors behind-the-scenes access and guided tastings.
In July, Heaven Hill opened its new corporate headquarters – while remaining in Louisville – in order to bring its teams “under one roof for the first time in many years”.
