Heaven Hill Fills First Barrel at New Heaven Hill Springs Distillery,
Cementing Status as Largest Independent Bourbon Producer
Milestone marks return of distilling to Bardstown for the first time since 1996 Â
Bardstown, Ky. (April 2025) – Heaven Hill marked a historic milestone with the first barrel filled at the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown. Nearly three decades after a fire destroyed the original facility, the event celebrates the return of distilling to the Bourbon Capital of the World and ushers in a new era for Heaven Hill as the largest independent Bourbon producer in the world.
This first barrel also signals the start of production at the new $200 million facility, with full completion of the project anticipated in September. The project sets the foundation for Heaven Hill’s next chapter as the company approaches its 90th anniversary on December 13, 2025—exactly 90 years after the Shapira brothers filled their first barrel in 1935.
“Filling this first barrel is both a homecoming and a major step into the future of Heaven Hill,” said Allan Latts, co-president of Heaven Hill Brands. “The Heaven Hill Springs Distillery reflects our deep roots in Bardstown, our long-term commitment to American Whiskey, and our investment in building for the next 90 years with care, intention and pride.”
The Heaven Hill Springs Distillery will initially produce 150,000 barrels annually, with capacity scalable up to 450,000 barrels. It joins the company’s historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, which has remained a cornerstone of Heaven Hill’s distilling operations since 1999. As the largest single-site Bourbon distillery in the country, Bernheim has played a critical role in carrying forward Heaven Hill’s legacy, producing award-winning whiskeys such as Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection and Elijah Craig. Together, these two world-class distilleries position Heaven Hill for continued leadership in American Whiskey.
With this expansion, Heaven Hill cements its position as the largest independent Bourbon producer in the world, a result of their dedicated leadership in the industry and decades of intentional growth—combining new investment in Bardstown with an established footprint in Louisville to support long-term flexibility, innovation and American Whiskey stewardship.
The new facility was designed with sustainability at its core, incorporating highly efficient production systems, advanced wastewater pretreatment, stormwater management and habitat restoration. Onsite energy creation and recovery systems further reduce environmental impact. These features reflect Heaven Hill’s commitment to protecting the natural resources that make Bourbon possible. That leadership was recently recognized when Rachel Nally, Heaven Hill’s director of environment and sustainability, was named Sustainability Officer of the Year at the 2025 Global Icons of Whisky Awards.
A full-circle moment rooted in history
To commemorate the occasion, Heaven Hill invited Charlie Downs, Master Distiller Emeritus, to serve as honorary master distiller for the day leading up to the first barrel filling. Downs is the only employee in company history to have worked in operations at all four of Heaven Hill’s distilling sites: the original Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown where he began his career in the 1970s, the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distillery, and now the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.
From overnight shifts in Bardstown to crafting one barrel a day for visitors on Whiskey Row, Downs spent more than four decades shaping Heaven Hill’s distilling legacy. His return for the first barrel filling at the new Springs Distillery serves as a powerful bridge between the company’s past and its future.
“Filling this first barrel brings full circle a journey nearly 90 years in the making,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill master distiller and 2025 Icons of Whisky America Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year. “Having Charlie here to mark this moment connects our heritage to our future in the most meaningful way. It reflects the craftsmanship and commitment of the Springs team, whose work brought this facility to life and set the tone for the next chapter of Heaven Hill whiskey.”
The return to Bardstown represents more than the opening of a new facility—it is a legacy investment that honors Heaven Hill’s past, strengthens American Whiskey production today, and ensures continued leadership for decades to come.
ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 2 million barrels aging in nearly 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond label collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2024 and 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year and 2023 World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon from the Icons of Whisky, as well as the 2022 Large Spirits Producer of the Year from the Ascot Awards. Heaven Hill Distillery held the title of 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. In 2019 Heaven Hill Distillery was named San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.
