Old Forester is Brown-Forman’s founding brand, founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. Now, after years of delays caused by a massive fire, the Old Forester Distillery has announced its grand opening along Louisville’s Whiskey Row. This storied location at 117 and 119 West Main Street was once home to Brown-Forman between 1900 and 1919 before moving to their current headquarters at 850 Dixie Highway.
The long-awaited grand opening is set to coincide with National Bourbon Day on June 14, 2018. The $45 million, 70,000 square foot distillery will guide guests through the Bourbon making process from fermentation and distillation, to the barrel-making, aging and bottling of America’s First Bottled Bourbon™. It’s the only downtown distillery with a fully-operational cooperage. Old Forester Distilling Co. will join ten other distilleries as an official member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour.
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“Nearly 150 years ago, my great, great grandfather, George Garvin Brown, signed and sealed Old Forester with a pledge to craft Bourbon of the highest quality and utmost consistency,” said Campbell Brown. “We’re thrilled to return to our former home and share with the world the spirited story of the Hometown Bourbon of Bourbon’s Hometown.”
During the economic boom following the Civil War, Louisville’s Main Street was the hub of the Bourbon business in Kentucky. Once home to 89 Bourbon distilling companies, only one of those companies has operated continuously to present day – Brown-Forman and its founding brand, Old Forester.
The distillery will be open weekly for tours and tastings Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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