New barrel warehouses coming to Bardstown’s main campus
Construction Starts Now
Expected to be completed by the fall of 2021, Heaven Hill Distillery will construct three new barrel warehouses on Bardstown’s main campus.
Similar to Heaven Hill’s warehouses at Cox’s Creek, the new rickhouses will cover nearly 40,000 square feet and hold just over 55,000 barrels each— totaling inventory space for more than 165,000 barrels. The new builds will include modern safety and efficiency features, including more space for barrel movement, more evacuation points, and sprinkler systems, among other features. In addition to new safety measures, the modern construction promises structural longevity that will support aging barrels and labor for decades to come.
Aesthetically, two of the new builds situated alongside Gilkey Run Road and Highway 49 will feature prominent glass siding on opposite corners of the rickhouse to showcase the aging inventory inside (see rendering above). Ultimately, this will create an iconic moment for visitors or those just passing through, no matter which route they travel.
Likewise, after thorough review and inspection, and to make way for the new builds, these advancements will include the deconstruction of current warehouses W, X, U, and V—a decision that is expected to have the greatest short-term and long-term benefits for the company. Prior to demolition, these warehouses remain safe and will continue to undergo routine inspections and repairs as needed.
Site prep is currently underway at the Bardstown main campus. Among the three new builds, the first warehouse is said to be completed by June 2020. Subsequently, warehouse two is said to be completed by February 2021, and warehouse three is expected to be completed by October 2021. Currently, employee and visitor traffic should not be impacted by the construction.
The renderings pictured above and below are concept design only and are subject to change.
