On a crisp April morning in 2025, the air in Bardstown, Kentucky, buzzed with anticipation. Heaven Hill, a name synonymous with Bourbon, filled the first barrel at its brand-new $200 million Heaven Hill Springs Distillery. This wasn’t just another day at the distillery—it was a milestone that echoed nearly nine decades of family grit, resilience, and a deep love for American whiskey. For the Shapira family, who’ve steered Heaven Hill since 1935, this moment was both a nod to their storied past and a bold step into the future.
The event drew a crowd, including local workers, whiskey enthusiasts, and the Shapira family themselves. Max Shapira, a towering figure in the Bourbon world, stood proudly alongside his daughter, Kate Latts, and her husband, Allan Latts, both co-presidents of Heaven Hill. Max shared a story that grounded the day in history: back in 1935, his father, Ed Shapira, and Ed’s four brothers scraped together $15,000 to start Heaven Hill. From that modest beginning, the company grew into the largest independently owned Bourbon producer in the world. Today, with over 2 million barrels aging across nearly 70 warehouses—about 15% of all Bourbon barrels resting globally—Heaven Hill’s legacy is undeniable.
The new distillery in Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World, isn’t just a shiny new building. It’s a homecoming. In 1996, a devastating fire tore through the original Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, forcing the company to lean on its Bernheim Distillery in Louisville to keep production alive. For nearly three decades, Bernheim carried the torch, churning out award-winning whiskeys like Elijah Craig and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond. Now, with the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, Bardstown reclaims its place at the heart of Heaven Hill’s operations.
Allan Latts captured the sentiment perfectly: “Filling this first barrel is both a homecoming and a major step into the future of Heaven Hill. This distillery reflects our deep roots in Bardstown, our long-term commitment to American Whiskey, and our investment in building for the next 90 years with care, intention, and pride.” The facility is built to produce 150,000 barrels a year to start, with the ability to scale up to 450,000. Paired with Bernheim, the largest single-site Bourbon distillery in the country, Heaven Hill is poised to dominate American whiskey production for decades.
What sets this distillery apart isn’t just its size or output—it’s the thought behind it. The Shapira family didn’t just pour $200 million into a factory; they built a facility that honors Bourbon’s past while embracing modern demands. Sustainability is woven into every corner of the operation. The distillery uses energy-efficient systems, advanced wastewater treatment, and stormwater management to minimize its footprint. Onsite energy creation and recovery systems further cut environmental impact, while habitat restoration efforts protect the land that makes Bourbon possible. Rachel Nally, Heaven Hill’s director of environment and sustainability, earned the 2025 Global Icons of Whisky Sustainability Officer of the Year award for her work on these initiatives. Her recognition underscores Heaven Hill’s commitment to preserving Kentucky’s natural resources for future generations.
The day’s emotional weight was amplified by the presence of Charlie Downs, Heaven Hill’s Master Distiller Emeritus. Downs, who began his career at the original Bardstown distillery in the 1970s, was invited to serve as honorary master distiller for the barrel-filling ceremony. His career spans all four of Heaven Hill’s distilling sites, from the old Springs facility to the Bernheim Distillery, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville, and now the new Springs Distillery. For over 40 years, Downs shaped Heaven Hill’s whiskeys, often working overnight shifts in Bardstown or crafting single barrels for visitors. His return for this moment was a bridge between the company’s past and its future, a living testament to the craftsmanship that defines Heaven Hill.
Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill’s current master distiller and the 2025 Icons of Whisky America Master Distiller of the Year, put it best: “Having Charlie here to mark this moment connects our heritage to our future in the most meaningful way. It reflects the craftsmanship and commitment of the Springs team, whose work brought this facility to life and set the tone for the next chapter of Heaven Hill whiskey.” The ceremony wasn’t just about filling a barrel—it was about honoring the hands that have built Heaven Hill’s legacy, from the Shapira brothers in 1935 to the team that runs the new distillery today.
As Heaven Hill approaches its 90th anniversary on December 13, 2025, the new distillery stands as a symbol of endurance. The company has weathered Prohibition’s end, a catastrophic fire, and decades of industry shifts, yet it remains fiercely independent. Unlike many Bourbon giants swallowed by corporate conglomerates, Heaven Hill is still family-owned, guided by the same values that Ed Shapira and his brothers instilled nearly a century ago. This independence gives Heaven Hill the freedom to innovate while staying true to its roots, a balance that shines through in whiskeys like the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection and Elijah Craig.
The Heaven Hill Springs Distillery also signals a broader shift in the Bourbon industry. As demand for American whiskey soars, producers are under pressure to scale up without sacrificing quality. Heaven Hill’s dual-distillery approach—combining the new Bardstown facility with the established Bernheim site—gives the company unmatched flexibility. They can experiment with new recipes, meet growing demand, and continue producing the high-quality whiskeys that have earned them a loyal following. This strategic growth cements Heaven Hill’s role as a steward of American whiskey, a responsibility the Shapira family takes seriously.
For Bardstown, the distillery’s opening is a point of pride. The town has long been the epicenter of Bourbon culture, home to distilleries, rickhouses, and the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Heaven Hill’s return to local distilling strengthens Bardstown’s claim as the Bourbon Capital, boosting tourism and local jobs. The distillery’s sleek design and sustainable features also make it a draw for visitors, who can see firsthand how tradition and innovation coexist in modern Bourbon-making.
As the first barrel was filled, the crowd felt the weight of the moment. It wasn’t just about whiskey—it was about a family’s journey, a town’s heritage, and an industry’s evolution. Heaven Hill’s new distillery isn’t just a building; it’s a promise to keep crafting exceptional Bourbon for generations to come. With the Shapira family at the helm, a state-of-the-art facility in Bardstown, and a team dedicated to quality, Heaven Hill is writing the next chapter of its story—one barrel at a time.
