expansion - BourbonSphere

New Distilleries, Huge Expansions, Departures: 2022 Was a Year For Kentucky Bourbon

Ah 2022, you did not disappoint. Bourbon has been on a solid winning streak as 2022 certainly reflected that with a large batch of twists and turns throughout the year. We look back on some of the big happenings and events that made it pop. New Distillery Announcements in 2022 $250M Distillery in The Works […]

The post New Distilleries, Huge Expansions, Departures: 2022 Was a Year For Kentucky Bourbon first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Ah 2022, you did not disappoint. Bourbon has been on a solid winning streak as 2022 certainly reflected that with a large batch of twists and turns throughout the year.

We look back on some of the big happenings and events that made it pop.

New Distillery Announcements in 2022

$250M Distillery in The Works for Jefferson’s
$50M Distillery for Blue Run in Georgetown, KY
$30M Distillery for “Western Kentucky Spirit Co.”
$23M Distillery planned for “Augusta Distillery” in Augusta, KY
Jane Bowie and Denny Potter Announce New Distillery Plans
Heaven Hill: $135m New Distillery in Bardstown Slated for 2024 Completion

Distillery Expansion News in 2022

Industry Departures

The post New Distilleries, Huge Expansions, Departures: 2022 Was a Year For Kentucky Bourbon first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Bottleneck Be Gone: Wilderness Trail Set to Nearly Double Capacity with New 2023 Bottling Line

Wilderness Trail Distillery (Danville, KY) closed out 2022 grabbing major headlines as it was bought for $420M ($600M overall evaluation) by spirits giant Campari. Picking up where they left off, they are starting 2023 with a bang as they announced this week their bottling line is set to nearly DOUBLE its capacity. The brand shared […]

The post Bottleneck Be Gone: Wilderness Trail Set to Nearly Double Capacity with New 2023 Bottling Line first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Wilderness Trail Distillery (Danville, KY) closed out 2022 grabbing major headlines as it was bought for $420M ($600M overall evaluation) by spirits giant Campari. Picking up where they left off, they are starting 2023 with a bang as they announced this week their bottling line is set to nearly DOUBLE its capacity.

The brand shared the following passage this week:

The machinery is needed to enhance production because the barrel inventory of aged, ready-to-bottle Bourbon and Rye Whiskey is doubling from 2022 to 2023. Inventory is expected to double again in 2024.

The current bottling line, with an inline filler, a corker, and an inline labeler, is capable of processing 3,100 barrels per year on one shift (3,000 bottles per day). In 2023, WTD needs to process 5,000 barrels in bottling (6,400 bottles per day).

Presently, the limiting factor on the line is the inline label machine. It restricts the line to 18 bottles per minute. In mid-January, WTD is upgrading to a rotary label machine made by PE Labelers. This machine will allow the bottling line to run 28-30 bottles per minute.

New case conveyors also will be installed to enhance productivity. The new machinery will allow WTD to meet bottling needs through 2025 running across one and two shifts.

In 2026, WTD is planning on installing a new bottling line, and the label machine will be redeployed to that new line where it will be capable of running up to 90 bottles per minute.

Learn more about Wilderness Trail Distillery at www.wildernesstraildistillery.com.

The post Bottleneck Be Gone: Wilderness Trail Set to Nearly Double Capacity with New 2023 Bottling Line first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

BREAKING: $93M Investment from WILLETT DISTILLERY for Expansion in New Location

PRESS RELEASE Directly from Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet On Thursday, Dec 8th, Gov. Andy Beshear announced continued momentum of the state’s bourbon industry as Kentucky Bourbon Distillers LTD, doing business as Willett Distillery, will invest nearly $93 million in Washington County to build warehouses and additional production facilities, creating 35 full-time jobs. “Kentucky’s bourbon industry […]

The post BREAKING: $93M Investment from WILLETT DISTILLERY for Expansion in New Location first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

PRESS RELEASE Directly from Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet

On Thursday, Dec 8th, Gov. Andy Beshear announced continued momentum of the state’s bourbon industry as Kentucky Bourbon Distillers LTD, doing business as Willett Distillery, will invest nearly $93 million in Washington County to build warehouses and additional production facilities, creating 35 full-time jobs.

“Kentucky’s bourbon industry is experiencing incredible momentum throughout the entire state,” said Gov. Beshear. “The demand for our bourbon is stronger than ever, and that’s a testament to the companies and distillers we have in the commonwealth who produce high-quality, world-class bourbon. Willett Distillery, which has been a staple of Kentucky bourbon for over eight decades, is bringing quality jobs to Washington County. I want to thank their leadership for continuing to support the commonwealth and look forward to many more years of their success.”

To meet the growing demand of the Willett collection of brands, the company is investing nearly $93 million to support projects that include the construction of a new distillery operation, barrel storage warehouses and a water storage area for fire prevention. The project, located at 1170 Mackville Road in Springfield, will see the construction of a 70,000-square-foot facility on 150 acres. Construction of the project is expected to begin in January 2023.

“We are grateful for each person that picks up a bottle of our family’s whiskey,” said Britt Kulsveen, president and chief whiskey officer at Willett Distillery. “It is both humbling and the greatest honor to be included in any celebration. Our intention is always to make a personal connection with our customers and fill their glass with cheer.”

Drew Kulsveen, master distiller and director of operations of Willett Distillery, added that he is appreciative of the hospitality shown from the local community.

“The Springfield community has graciously welcomed us with the same warmth and attentiveness that we try to show our guests every day,” said Kulsveen. “We are grateful for the kindness and support we have received from the Springfield community and for the continued support of our Bardstown home.”

Founded in 1936, Willett Distillery is a family owned and operated distillery located in Nelson County, Kentucky. Over the last 86 years, Willett has grown gradually, methodically and responsibly, incorporating the family values of southern hospitality, craftsmanship and compassion in their products and services through the years. Over the last five years, the Willett employee base has nearly doubled. Today, the company employs 67 people that host more than 80,000 guests annually and distill, barrel and bottle 11 brands that are distributed in 40 states.

Willett Distillery’s investment adds to the commonwealth’s booming bourbon sector, which is a nearly $9 billion signature industry in Kentucky generating more than 22,500 jobs with an annual payroll exceeding $1.23 billion. Since the start of the Beshear administration, more than 60 spirits-related announcements have generated roughly $2.5 billion in new investment, creating more than 1,300 full-time jobs for Kentuckians.

Washington County Judge/Executive Timothy Graves is thankful for Willett’s expansion and the economic boost the company will provide to the region.

“This is an exciting announcement,” said Judge Graves. “We are located in the heart of the bourbon trail, and this project will add good-paying jobs and investment to our county. We want to welcome and thank Willett Distillery for selecting Washington County for their continued growth!”

Springfield Mayor Debbie Wakefield noted the company’s rich history in the bourbon industry and welcomed its leaders to the community.

“This is outstanding for our community from a jobs and investment standpoint, but also because Willett has such a rich history in the distilling industry, and an outstanding reputation for quality and community,” said Mayor Wakefield. “We are thrilled that they have chosen Springfield for this project!”

Daniel Carney, executive director of the Springfield-Washington County Economic Development Authority, mentioned the quality of the company’s brand as an ideal fit for the strong bourbon presence in Central Kentucky.

“The world’s finest spirits are made and aged right here in Central Kentucky, and Willett has established themselves as an iconic brand, known for their commitment to quality,” said Carney. “This is a perfect fit, as they continue the growth of their family owned distillery in Springfield and Washington County.”

The post BREAKING: $93M Investment from WILLETT DISTILLERY for Expansion in New Location first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Irish Distillers Plans €250 Million Midleton Expansion

September 15, 2022 – Irish Distillers plans to expand Ireland’s largest distillery once again to meet growing global demand for Irish Whiskey. The €250 million project will see an all-new distillery built on a 55-acre site just across the Dungourney River from the existing Midleton distillery, which opened in 1975 to replace the original Midleton Distillery. “We have a vision that by 2030, we’ll be selling 15 million cases of Jameson (annually),” Midleton master distiller Kevin O’Gorman told WhiskyCast. “Last year, to put it in context, in our financial year 2022…we for the first time surpassed 10 million cases of Read More »

September 15, 2022 – Irish Distillers plans to expand Ireland’s largest distillery once again to meet growing global demand for Irish Whiskey. The €250 million project will see an all-new distillery built on a 55-acre site just across the Dungourney River from the existing Midleton distillery, which opened in 1975 to replace the original Midleton Distillery.

“We have a vision that by 2030, we’ll be selling 15 million cases of Jameson (annually),” Midleton master distiller Kevin O’Gorman told WhiskyCast. “Last year, to put it in context, in our financial year 2022…we for the first time surpassed 10 million cases of Jameson, we actually did 10.4 million cases…so to match that demand, we need a new distillery,” he said.

The new distillery will produce both grain and single pot still whiskey for use in Jameson and the company’s other whiskies, including Redbreast, Power’s, and Midleton Very Rare. Assuming timely approval from Cork county regulators, construction could begin early next year and be completed by 2025 in time for Midleton’s 200th anniversary.

The new distillery will be designed to be carbon-neutral from day one of production, according to O’Gorman. The Pernod Ricard unit is already investing €50 million to make the existing distillery carbon-neutral with new boilers, heat recompression technology, and an anaerobic digestion system for distillery waste products that will produce biogas to fuel both distilleries. Work on that project is expected to be completed by 2025 as well.

Links: Irish Distillers

35 Years on Forty Creek (Episode 963: July 31, 2022)

Forty Creek master blender Bill Ashburn celebrated his 35th anniversary in the whisky business this week, and he’s one of those blenders content to stay out of the spotlight most of the time. Ashburn and John Hall put Canadian Whisky on a new course in 2000 when they released the Forty Creek Barrel Select and Three Grain whiskies, and Ashburn’s whiskies have won countless awards since then. He’ll join us on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, we have details on the U.S. government’s proposal to create an official definition for American Single Malt whiskies, along with Beam Suntory’s Read More »

Download

Pernod Ricard to Invest $110 Million at Speyside Distilleries

April 29, 2022 – Pernod Ricard is planning major expansions at its Aberlour and Miltonduff distilleries in Scotland. The two Speyside distilleries will receive a total of £88 million ($110 million USD) in upgrades that will increase production by 14 million liters of alcohol annually. In a news release, the company’s Chivas Brothers unit unveiled plans for an all-new still house at Aberlour, along with a new visitors center to replace the tiny shop at the distillery’s main gate. The distillery’s production will be doubled to nearly eight million liters of alcohol each year using sustainable distilling technology as part Read More »

April 29, 2022 – Pernod Ricard is planning major expansions at its Aberlour and Miltonduff distilleries in Scotland. The two Speyside distilleries will receive a total of £88 million ($110 million USD) in upgrades that will increase production by 14 million liters of alcohol annually.

An architect’s rendering of the planned Aberlour Distillery expansion. Image courtesy Chivas Brothers.

In a news release, the company’s Chivas Brothers unit unveiled plans for an all-new still house at Aberlour, along with a new visitors center to replace the tiny shop at the distillery’s main gate. The distillery’s production will be doubled to nearly eight million liters of alcohol each year using sustainable distilling technology as part of the company’s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions at its distilleries by 2026.

An architect’s rendering of the planned Miltonduff Distillery expansion. Image courtesy Chivas Brothers.

Miltonduff, known as one of the “fingerprint” malts used in the Ballantine’s blends, will see an all-new distillery built adjacent to the existing distillery. The new distillery will have an annual capacity of 10 million liters of alcohol, which Chivas Brothers expects to use in fueling continued sales growth for Ballantine’s worldwide.

In a statement, Chivas Brothers CEO Jean-Etienne Gourgues said “this expansion will allow us to increase our volume to capitalise on the increased demand and interest in Scotch, but also supports our drive to reduce emissions in line with our sustainability ambitions. We’re once again betting big on the future of Scotch so we can bring in new consumers to the category and continue to shape a sustainable future of whisky.”

Both projects are expected to be completed by mid-2025.

Links: Chivas Brothers