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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Bulleit Distilling Opens Distillery In Shelbyville, Kentucky

03/14/2017
Bulleit Distilling Co. opened the company’s distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky. The project is part of a $130-plus million investment creating approximately 30 full-time jobs.

The company constructed a 1.8 million proof gallon distillery on Benson Pike in Shelby County. The 300-acre campus includes four barrel warehouses with two more planned for construction. Each warehouse has a 55,000 barrel capacity. The distillery’s modular design allows for growth. Company executives, without announcing a timeline, said they plan an expansion project in the near future.

“We’re so proud to open the Bulleit Distilling Co. here in Shelbyville,” said Tom Bulleit. “Seeing this distillery come to life has been a truly surreal experience that couldn’t have been achieved without the tireless work of so many men and women. We can’t wait to share our whiskey produced here in Shelby County around the globe.”

The distillery features a 52-foot still crafted by Vendome Copper and Brass Works Inc. in Louisville and the first Shelby County’s industrial solar array, which will collect enough energy to run on-site mobile equipment.

Diageo, the parent company of Bulleit, is investing about $115 million in this initial phase of the Shelbyville site and recently invested $18 million to develop the Stitzel-Weller visitor center, bottling line and micro distillery, in Louisville.

“It is an honor to join Bulleit Distilling Co. today to celebrate the opening of its new distillery in Shelbyville,” Governor Matt Bevin said. “Bourbon, in addition to its status as a signature Kentucky product, is an important driver of state’s economy and workforce. Bulleit, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in conjunction with today’s ribbon cutting, continues to add international acclaim to Kentucky’s proud spirit-making tradition. I congratulate the company on these achievements and expect they'll see continued strong growth in the coming years.”

To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approved up to $2.5 million in tax incentives through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

In KEDFA in 2014 approved the company for up to $1.5 million in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.Bulleit also can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network.

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