On Nov. 7th, 1996, violent storms rolled through Bardstown, Kentucky—bringing high winds and lightning strikes that sparked a fire at one of Heaven Hill Distillery’s rickhouses. The flames quickly spread to neighboring buildings, destroying not only 92,000 barrels of aging American Whiskey but the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery: the heart and soul of Heaven Hill’s Whiskey operations since it was first founded by the Shapira brothers in 1935.

The fire marked the end of Heaven Hill’s Whiskey-making in Bardstown, but did not spell the end for Heaven Hill. With the acquisition of the Bernheim Distillery in 1999, distillery operations moved to Louisville. Fast forward 26 years, and we’re thrilled to announce the opening of a new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery alongside our continued operations in Bernheim. Let’s take a closer look at this new state-of-the-art facility.

BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Built near the same historic grounds as the original distillery in Bardstown, the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery sits on a 61-acre lot in the middle of Nelson County. It will initially produce 500 barrels a day with a single 66-inch column still, with plans to add two additional stills in the near future. Once the new stills are operational, the Springs site will match production at the Bernheim Distillery at 450,000 barrels annually: doubling our current output and keeping pace with market demand for American Whiskey.

“The Heaven Hill Springs Distillery produces the same quality Whiskey that we’ve aged in Bardstown and distilled in Bernheim for the last several decades,” says Adam Ganoe, Heaven Hills Springs Distillery plant manager. But while the mashbills that produce Heaven Hill’s award-winning Bourbons are the same, the fermentation process looks a little different. That’s because Heaven Hill Springs uses live yeast instead of dry: using the same proprietary yeast strain that has been handed down for generations, and miraculously survived the 1996 fire.

Heaven Hill Springs Distillery also houses the technology and facilities to propagate and condition its original yeast strain on site, allowing the team to monitor quality and prepare the yeast for fermentation from the very beginning—something that Heaven Hill takes great pride in.

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Another remarkable feature of the new operation is its focus on sustainability.

“There are similar techniques that we use at the Bernheim plant, but I feel like [Heaven Hill] Springs takes it to a different level,” says Ganoe. “We’ve used the knowledge of our master distillers, both past and present, along with our engineers and maintenance teams, to design a more efficient and sustainable facility.”

One such effort is how waste is recycled on site. The distillery takes its own waste stream, cleans it, and then converts it to power that feeds back into the electrical grid for the actual wastewater plant. On top of that, naturalized detention basins collect stormwater across the campus, helping to reduce flooding while allowing wildlife, such as pollinators, to flourish.

Sustainability efforts also include the planting of native Kentucky wild grasses and nearly 600 oak trees across the distillery’s grounds. Additionally, a new recycling program will be launched, along with EV charging stations, to further reduce the distillery’s carbon footprint—following in the footsteps of Bernheim Distillery’s green initiatives, which recently earned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification for the second year in a row.

A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR BOURBON ENTHUSIASTS

While Heaven Hill Springs Distillery is first and foremost an operational distillery, it’s also been thoughtfully designed as a destination for fans. “A lot of thought has been put into this, both being a functional distillery, but also being a tourist destination,” Ganoe says.

Starting in September, visitors can book a tour for Heaven Hill Springs Distillery at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, where a van will take them on a short drive to the distillery. If you’re one for asking lots of questions, you’ll be in the right place. Visitors are encouraged to engage with employees throughout the distillery and ask them Whiskey-related questions about Heaven Hill and plant operations. The tour ends back at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, where American Whiskey fans can explore the galleries, enjoy a guided tasting, and sample cocktails and light bites at the Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen.

“We took our time hiring the right people,” says Ganoe. “We hired people that are engaging, forward facing, and really excited about Bourbon production.”

Whether you’re new to the world of Whiskey or have been enjoying it for decades, one thing is certain – Heaven Hill Springs Distillery will be a destination for Bourbon enthusiasts for years to come. With a legacy that spans close to a hundred years, we’re excited to return to our roots and continue to provide award-winning expressions for all to experience.

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