Heaven Hill Distillery is set to grow its American whiskey production capabilities with a new distillery in Kentucky. The privately-owned company confirmed plans this week to spend US$135m on the facility, in Bardstown, which will join its Bernheim Distillery in the US state. Scheduled to commence operations in 2024, the new site will have an annual production capacity of 30m proof gallons. Initially, production will be around 10m proof gallons per year. “Our new distillery will honour our long-time Bardstown roots while applying state-of-the-art equipment and processes to produce the highest quality American whiskey and build upon our meaningful partnership with Bardstown and the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said Heaven Hill president Max Shapira. The company, which also owns the Heaven Hill Brands division, moved its distilling operations to Bernheim in Louisville following a major fire at its Bardstown site in 1996. The fire destroyed the distillery along with seven rickhouses. Earlier this year, Heaven Hill Brands inherited six spirits brands through its purchase of Florida-based Samson & Surrey. How big can American whiskey get now that UK tariffs have gone? - Click here for a Just Drinks focus