LOUISVILLE, KY (May 28, 2015) – Brown-Forman announced it has finalized purchased of 117 and 119 W. Main St., Louisville, from Main Street Revitalization LLC for $4.5 million. Stoll Keenon Ogden brokered the deal.
Brown-Forman announced in September 2014  it will open an Old Forester Distillery in the two historic buildings on Whiskey Row in the fall of 2016. The company anticipates investing approximately $45 million in this project. The new distillery will allow Brown-Forman to double production of Old Forester.
Messer Construction has been chosen as the managing contractor of the project after a competitive bid process. The combined buildings have approximately 55,000 s.f. with 52 linear feet of Main Street frontage. The brick and masonry facade of the building will be preserved and fully restored.
The historic properties at 117 and 119 W. Main St. were built around 1857 and used for warehousing barrels of whiskey from numerous distilleries in the areas. At least 19 distillers, wholesalers and other whiskey-related businesses have called this block of West Main Street home. Between 1900 and 1919, Brown-Forman operated out of the 117 W. Main St. before moving to its current headquarters at 850 Dixie Highway.
Old Forester was founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. Brown believed Old Forester was of such consistent high quality that he sealed it, signed it and pledged, “There is nothing better in the market.” The Old Forester Distillery will celebrate Brown’s innovative spirit and his commitment to making the highest quality bourbon. The working distillery will include fermentation, distilling, barrel making, filling and dumping, and bottling.
More than 140 years old, Brown-Forman Corp. has nearly 4,200 employees and sells a line of products in 160 countries. Its brands include Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Canadian Mist, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, New Mix, Tuaca, and Woodford Reserve.
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