Atlanta-based spirits company Staghorn just announced the opening of its first distillery, Garrard County Distilling Co., which has officially begun production in Lancaster, KY.
With its towering dual 45 feet tall 36” Vendome Copper and Brass Works column stills, Garrard County Distilling is the largest all-new independent distillery in Kentucky, the company states. The $250+ million project is capable of producing up to 8.5 million proof gallons or 150,000 barrels of whiskey a year, while also supporting the local economy with more than 60+ new jobs.
This is the first commercial distillery in the formerly dry county since the 1800s.
Continued Distillery Growth
The 210-acre site has plans for a total of 24 aging warehouses by 2030, each expected to hold nearly 25,000 barrels, according to the company. A visitor center with tasting room and restaurant is scheduled to open by the end of this year.
“Staghorn’s vision for Garrard County Distilling Co. is to craft the finest whiskeys and spirits in the world at scale to make an immediate impact in the market,” said Staghorn Founder and President Ray Franklin, a near 25-year industry veteran, in a press release. “To support this goal, we will be hiring nothing but the best in the business, respecting long-honored traditions and craftmanship to assure our products are nothing short of remarkable.”
“Garrard County Distilling Co. is Staghorn’s first distillery and the dedication and size at which they are entering the category is a true testament to the worldwide appeal of bourbon from our great commonwealth,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear in the release. “Staghorn’s investment is a welcome addition to the Lancaster and Garrard County communities, as well as to Kentucky tourism. I want to thank the company’s leadership for their vision to grow in the commonwealth, contributing to Kentucky’s position as the bourbon capital of the world.”
Additional Whiskey Collections Soon to Come
Garrard County Distilling Co. will be home to All Nations Whiskey, which is already available in select markets nationwide, in addition to several soon-to-be announced whiskey and other spirits brands, the company states. All Nations Whiskey was named from the poster hung in bars during Carry Nation’s temperance crusade in the late 1800s, smashing saloons with her infamous hatchet. The tongue-in-cheek posters read: “All Nations Welcome Except Carry.”
