Fermenting mash and distilling in Bardstown, Kentucky, the Bourbon Capital of the World is nothing new but, Bardstown Bourbon Company is taking a new business approach in the town. The company, started construction in October 2014 and has been planning and building for nearly three years. They will be making product for themselves but they’ve also been selling its spirits wholesale on a contract basis to other distillers for quite some time. It may not be an original idea but contract sales have gone so well that they are already sold out before they have filled their first barrel of bourbon or rye and are already talking expansion.
The distillery’s current capacity is designed for 1.5 million proof gallons but can be expanded to more than 6 million proof gallons, by adding additional equipment, which allows them to take on new customers in 3rd quarter 2017.
Production Starts This Week
Timing is everything. During this year’s annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival the company has started their first official round of cooking, fermenting and soon distilling. In fact, we’ll be attending an event at the distillery on Friday where I assume they will be distilling their first product and getting ready to barrel.
The First Fermentation
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“The Bardstown Bourbon Company is reshaping the American whiskey market,” said David Mandell, President & CEO. “The success of our Collaborative Distilling Program demonstrates the massive demand for custom, authentic, Kentucky whiskey products. We’re excited to begin producing bourbon for our customers and our own brands.”
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Startup Bardstown Bourbon Co. Offers Innovative Wholesale Distilling Program
Bardstown Bourbon Company plans to open its visitors and events center to the public in early 2017, which they say will contain one of the largest collections of whiskey in the state of Kentucky. The state-of-the-art whiskey distillery will also include a transparent educational experience and high-end tours and tastings, event space, and eventually, a restaurant and boutique hotel.
To make this all possible, the company assembled an experienced whiskey-distilling team, led by Bourbon Hall of Fame Master Distiller, Steve Nally – a 40-year veteran of the spirits industry and the former Master Distiller of Maker’s Mark.
“We’ve turned on the whiskey at the Bardstown Bourbon Company,” said Master Distiller, Steve Nally. “I’m so proud to be starting up this incredible operation in my hometown. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we’re excited to share it with the world soon.”
The company is developing a $25 million destination experience on its campus featuring a state-of-the-art whiskey distillery, unique and transparent educational experience, integrated visitors center, event space, whiskey library and bar (thanks to a new law), and eventually a restaurant and boutique hotel.
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We’ll be on the lookout for their custom design work when we visit the distillery. Here’s a sneak peak at something that is normally round that they have chosen to make square.
