“Kentucky Owl Park,” a 420-acre site at Cedar Creek Quarry in Bardstown, Ky., will also include rickhouses for aging product and a bottling center will house operations for the newly created American Whiskey Division of Stoli Group.
In the long-term, Kentucky Owl Park, named for the bourbon that joined Stoli Group’s portfolio earlier this year and served as the inspiration for this groundbreaking, will go above and beyond other Bourbon Trail destinations to feature a freshwater lake, a gourmet restaurant, a remarkable convention center, a vintage passenger train, and a refurbished train station.
Work is scheduled to start in early 2018 with a goal of completing the distillery phase and begin production of whiskies in 2020, bringing as many as 57 jobs to the area.
In addition to producing wine and spirits, SPI Group develops large-scale real estate projects, including the Finos Tequila distillery in Jalisco, Mexico and the award-winning Bayou Rum distillery and visitors center in Lacassine, La., and farms 14,000 acres of agricultural land, including for its Stoli and elit Vodkas in Tambov, Russia.
“Stoli Group will put great resources into these endeavors – both the distillery experience and the growth of this very important category for our company. As master blender, Dixon Dedman will continue to manage the production of Kentucky Owl – the crown jewel of the new division, which will remain a small batch offering,” said Dmitry Efimov, Head of Stoli Group’s American Whiskey Division. “This site will be home to additional brands that we will create or acquire. With the continued strength and growth of American whiskies and bourbons, we are beginning to evaluate those opportunities.”