Heaven Hill Brands, the nation’s largest family-owned and led spirits producer, marked a major milestone in the more than $200 million project to build a new distillery in the Bourbon Capital of the World. Construction partners and media joined the company as they completed the installation of the distillery’s Vendome copper still. This critical piece of the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery marks a major step towards returning the company’s distilling processes to Bardstown for the first time since the 1996 fire that destroyed the original distillery.
The major milestone in the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery project coincides with the start of Bourbon Heritage Month and the upcoming Kentucky Bourbon Festival. These celebrations have become synonymous with the rich heritage and craftsmanship of Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
The distillery is being built at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike and is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. Initial production is slated for 150,000 barrels a year, and over time, it will have the capacity to ramp up to 450,000 barrels annually. This will be in addition to the company’s distilling at the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, which will continue to operate at full capacity of 450,000 barrels annually.
The new Vendome copper still was shipped by Vendome to Bardstown in two pieces on separate flatbeds. At nearly 60 feet tall and weighing more than 22,000 pounds, this still can produce 35,500 proof gallons per day, equal to more than 500 barrels daily. Crafted from copper, a material celebrated for its role in distillation due to its exceptional heat conductivity, the still represents a marriage of traditional and modern technology. The state-of-the-art equipment is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the character and flavor profile of Heaven Hill’s future whiskeys.
In line with Heaven Hill’s 2030 Environmental Sustainability Strategy, the design of this new distillery reflects the company’s dedication to playing a role in forming a more eco-conscious distilled spirits industry. The new still is insulated and then wrapped in a copper skin to enhance energy conservation throughout the whiskey-making process. The site will also include other sustainability efforts, such as a wastewater pretreatment system and program to harness energy creation and recovery, which will alleviate demands on the city’s electrical and water treatment plants. Once construction is closer to completion, the campus will use native plants and natural systems to manage stormwater runoff and improve habitat on the property.
For more information about Heaven Hill Brands and the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery project, please visit heavenhillsprings.com.
