LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Brown-Forman is expanding its Louisville distillery. The company will progress with the $95m expansion, located near Dixie Highway in Shively.
The original Shively distillery was built in 1935 by the Old Kentucky Distillery Company and was acquired by Brown-Forman in 1940. The company replaced the original distillery with its current operation in 1954-1955, followed by a major expansion from 1966-1967.
As part of the new plans, Brown-Forman will double the capacity of the facility, which will remain fully operational during the expansion period.
During the first half of fiscal 2021, Brown-Forman saw a 22% increase in sales of its premium Bourbon portfolio, driven by sustained double-digit growth from Woodford Reserve and Old Forester.
The $95m investment will include doubling the number of fermenters on-site, adding column still capacity and mash cookers, improving the grain handling and by-products system, and enhancing on-site traffic flow.
Furthermore, Old Forester will create an oak nursery on-site as part of a long-term study of tree sustainability. The move is in line with Brown-Forman’s aim of ensuring the future viability of key ingredients in Bourbon making. Brown-Forman and its partners will also plant acorns in the nursery in spring 2021.
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