LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Heaven Hill Distillery is expanding, with plans to open a new $135 million facility by 2024.
The new distillery is being built on a vacant 61-acre site at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike, off KY 245, to help meet a growing demand for bourbon worldwide.
"We are building a state-of-the-art highly efficient distillery," said Anna Hibbs, manager of strategic initiatives at Heaven Hill Distillery.
Construction is scheduled to begin this spring, with the distillery slated to open by the end of 2024. Officials said it will eventually produce 450,000 barrels of bourbon a year, according to a news release.
"We're looking at this in three phrases and we will evaluate the necessity after each phase," Hibbs said.
Once the new facility is finished, it will mark the brand's return to distilling in Bardstown for the first time since a 1996 fire that destroyed its onsite distillery, seven rick houses and almost 100,000 barrels of whiskey.
Hibbs said the fire was devastating and that a lot of local people still remember that day. After the fire, Heaven Hill moved its distilling operations to Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, while bottling, aging of whiskey and other functions continued in the Bardstown area.
The new distillery is expected to add at least 100 jobs and this announcement came just months after a strike sent union workers to the picket lines for several weeks.
"We're thrilled to have a new five-year extension and we're moving forward in the right direction with them with better communication," Hibbs said.
All current Heaven Hill locations will continue to operate at full capacity.
Related stories:
- Heaven Hill strike ends, agreement reached with union on 5-year contract
- Heaven Hill Distillery prepares to open $19 million, immersive bourbon experience
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