Sazerac Just Confirmed a Major Kentucky Distillery Deal. Its Next Step Could Be Even Bigger
The bourbon giant’s latest acquisition adds distilling capacity during an industry slowdown and comes as the company continues its $15 billion pursuit of Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman.
Buffalo Trace maker Sazerac has completed its $20 million acquisition of the shuttered Garrard County Distillery Co. in Lancaster, Kentucky, the latest in a series of investments by the bourbon maker throughout the commonwealth.
The facility, located about 30 miles south of Lexington, was touted as Kentucky’s largest independently owned distillery when it was built by Atlanta-based spirits company Staghorn and opened in 2024. But just 14 months later, the distillery shut down and was placed into receivership after Staghorn defaulted on a $26 million construction loan from Truist Bank and later went out of business.
Sazerac assumed the debt and acquired the facility
Sazerac assumed the debt and acquired the facility in a court-ordered auction in June, a deal finalized Friday.
“Even with all the investments we have made to expand, we need more supply to keep up with demand,” Jake Wenz, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “The addition of the Lancaster facility gives us valuable distilling capabilities to support that growth.”
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The 210-acre site features two column stills and two barrel warehouses measuring 20,000 square feet each. Sazerac said it expects to hire additional team members soon and add to staffing as operations expand.
Garrard County joins Sazerac’s three other production facilities
Garrard County joins Sazerac’s three other production facilities in Kentucky: Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort; Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown; and The Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro.
Sazerac also operates the A.J. Bond Distillery in Tennessee. Other recent acquisitions include Au Vodka, Western Son Vodka, 818 Tequila, the grain-based Korean spirit Dalho Soju, and the canned cocktail brand SipMargs.
Source: www.inc.com
