A devastating fire tore through Heaven Hill’s original distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, on November 7, 1996, destroying 92,000 barrels of whiskey and forcing production to relocate to Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. On September 4, 2025, Heaven Hill Brands, the nation’s largest independent family-owned spirits company, unveiled the $200 million Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, marking a triumphant return to the Bourbon Capital after nearly three decades.
Spanning 61 acres in Nelson County, the state-of-the-art facility blends heritage with innovation. Heaven Hill, founded by the Shapira family in 1935, upholds its legacy through a proprietary yeast strain, preserved since the company’s inception and salvaged from the 1996 fire. Unlike Bernheim’s dry yeast, the new distillery propagates live yeast on-site, ensuring consistency for brands like Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, and Larceny, which hold about 15% of U.S. whiskey inventory. Charlie Downs, Master Distiller Emeritus and the only employee to work at all four Heaven Hill distilleries, filled the first barrel in April 2025. The opening also paid tribute to Parker Beam’s 56-year tenure with “Heaven Hill Master Distillers Unity,” a limited-edition bourbon (4,000 bottles, 107 proof, $225) blending his 1991 final barrel with Bernheim’s multi-year expressions, symbolically bridging three eras of the company’s distilling legacy. “This facility stands on the shoulders of our predecessors while advancing the science of whiskey-making,” said Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll.
The distillery’s 60-foot Vendome copper still produces 33,000 proof gallons daily, with an initial capacity of 150,000 barrels annually, scalable to 450,000 barrels to match Bernheim’s output. This expansion, projected to nearly double Heaven Hill’s total capacity to 1 million barrels per year, responds to bourbon’s global surge—exports hit $1 billion in 2024, driven by 2.7 million Kentucky Bourbon Trail visitors, a 20% increase from the prior year. “As a family-owned business, we take the long view,” said Co-President Kate Latts. “Heaven Hill Springs is built for the future of our craft.” The facility, which added 38 jobs, is set to stabilize supply for export markets in Asia and Europe, where demand continues to climb, bolstering Heaven Hill’s competitive edge against industry leaders like Brown-Forman and Sazerac.
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Sustainability bolsters efficiency. A wastewater pretreatment system converts waste into renewable energy, easing Bardstown’s municipal load, while a 22-gallon beer system cuts daily water use by 24,000 gallons, aligning with Heaven Hill’s 2030 environmental goals. For enthusiasts, the “Heritage Rising” tour, launched September 8 for $55 per person, offers shuttle access from the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience to explore fermentation, distillation, and tasting, with staff encouraging interactive questions to deepen brand engagement.
Heaven Hill Springs Distillery is a milestone for bourbon’s evolution. By weaving heritage, cutting-edge technology, and strategic capacity, it strengthens Heaven Hill’s global influence. As Bardstown reclaims its role as the Bourbon Capital, this return signals a vibrant new chapter for the industry.
