Jackson Purchase Distillery in Hickman, Kentucky, the western most distillery in the state, has one of the more unusual history’s of any distillery in the nation. The distillery itself was built in 2008 and then sat idle for nearly 13 years. In 2021 the distillery finally hit its stride when it was acquired and the new owners fired up the 24” Vendome Copper & Brass Works column still that would finally be making bourbon, rye and American whiskey.
The distillery leadership team includes CEO and President Lloyd Jones, COO David Salmon, Board Chairman Van Carlisle and Director Jim Gladden. Together they have assembled an operations team of well-known industry veterans, including Master Distiller Craig Beam, formerly of Heaven Hill Distillery, and Plant Manager and Assistant Master Distiller Terry Ballard, formerly of Willett Distillery in Bardstown.
Investment Grows to $37 Million
This initial investment in the property was $8.76 million to acquire the property, distillery and get it up and running. In 2022 the distillery announced a $26 million expansion adding a 36″ copper column still from Louisville Exchange & Vessel as well as new fermentation tanks and cookers manufactured by Central Fabricators, and related equipment. The distillery is now operating their two stills 24×7, producing nearly 65,000 barrels of whiskey per year.
All those barrels of whiskey must go somewhere and that’s where the latest $10 million investment comes into play with the construction of a pair of new 25,000-barrel rickhouses.
Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman joined local officials and distillery leadership to celebrate and cut the ribbon on a new rickhouse at the distillery.
“The commonwealth’s bourbon and spirits industry has seen historic growth in the last few years and shows no signs of slowing down,” Kentucky Lt. Gov. Coleman said. “Continued support from companies like Jackson Purchase Distillery, which has tripled its original investment in this project and nearly doubled the number of quality jobs, is a testament to the workforce, resources and business-friendly environment here in Kentucky. I am excited to celebrate this next step for the company and Fulton County community and look forward to their continued success.”
“We put the community at the center of everything we do,” said Hickman native and Jackson Purchase Distillery CEO Lloyd Jones. “Bourbon has been a tremendous impact for other parts of the state, and we want to have that same kind of impact here in Western Kentucky.”
Ribbon Cutting Celebrates a Pair of $5 Million All Steel Rickhouses
From the exterior the new rickhouses look like many other Kentucky rickhouses with steel cladding and windows wide-open to take advantage of those sultry summer days. Upon closer inspection, as you can see in the construction photos below, the ricks, built by A & S Fabricating Co. out of Livermore, Kentucky, are powder coated steel.
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Each of the new rickhouses hold nearly 25,000 barrels and costs approximately $5 million each or about $200 per barrel. The rickhouse features five floors and three barrels high on each floor.
Unlike traditional wood ricks where the maintenance begins the day the barrel warehouse is complete, these powder coated steel ricks will remain level and intact well into the future. Master Distiller Craig Beam added that these still ricks will be safer for warehouse employees and will last much longer than wooden ricks typically made with green wood.
Jackson Purchase Distillery offers contract distilling services, selling new-fill barrels of bourbon to craft brands, larger distillers in need of increased capacity and companies that purchase barrels for future third-party sales.
Fulton County Judge/Executive Jim Martin noted the company’s impact on the community and existing industries: “The Fulton County Fiscal Court is pleased to have Jackson Purchase Distillery join one of our best and fastest growing industries. Our farming community benefits greatly from their demand for agriculture products. Jackson Purchase Distillery is a win-win for Fulton County as they continue to grow, employ our citizens and contribute to our economy.”
Hickman Mayor Heath Carlton highlighted the economic impact the company has brought to the area: “The presence of Jackson Purchase Distillery has been instrumental in the economic growth and development to the city of Hickman. Their contribution to our community and the surrounding areas are building a legacy that will continue for years to come.”
Hickman City Manager Jennie Overall is excited to see the company bring the thriving bourbon industry to the area: “Bourbon evokes the timeless essence of heritage and legacy. Jackson Purchase Distillery is bringing that heritage and legacy to life in Hickman, Kentucky. I can’t wait to see the story unfold.”
Mark Welch, president of the Fulton-Hickman Counties Economic Development Partnership, looks forward to the exposure the project will bring to the region: “Jackson Purchase Distillery is putting Fulton County on the map. Bourbon is quintessentially Kentuckian and enjoyed globally. We’re honored to have such a high-demand and quality product coming from Fulton County!”
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in May 2021 approved a 15-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program.
Learn more about Jackson Purchase Distillery.
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Related Stories
– Jackson Purchase Distillery Joins the Kentucky Distillers’ Association Mar 2023
– Startup Jackson Purchase Distillery Hires Veteran Master Distillers Craig Beam and Terry Ballard Jun 2021
– 3rd Time’s a Charm? This 13 Year Old Never Run Distillery to (re)Start May 2021
– Startup RH Resolute Distillery to Produce 400 Barrels Per Week Ramping Up to 2,600 Jul 2018
‘Kentucky Bend’
The Western Most Point in Kentucky
Factoid: Kentucky Bend or New Madrid Bend – Did you know Kentucky has a peninsula-like piece of land that is isolated from the rest of the state? The only way to get to this 11 square miles piece of Kentucky is by driving north from Tennessee. The northern, eastern and western portions are surrounded by the Mississippi River which borders Missouri. There is no bridge connecting this part of Fulton County to the rest of Kentucky. It is the western most point in the state.
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