Sazerac has acquired the Garrard County Distilling facility in Lancaster, Kentucky, expanding its distilling footprint across the Commonwealth. The company announced the deal on 21 August 2026, adding to a network that already includes Buffalo Trace, Barton 1792 and The Glenmore distilleries.
Straight Neck Stills & Littlemill Roots: Five Things You Didn’t Know About Loch Lomond
READ THE STORYThe facility opened in 2024 and sits on approximately 210 acres. It includes two column stills and two 20,000-square-foot barrel warehouses.
Sazerac said it will use the site’s existing infrastructure to support broader production needs. The company expects to hire additional team members initially and grow the workforce over time.
Trending Content
“Kentucky has been an important part of Sazerac’s story for many years, and we’re proud to continue investing and growing here,” said Jake Wenz, president and CEO of Sazerac. “Today, nearly 3,000 team members are part of Sazerac’s Kentucky operations, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue growing that team.”
Wenz added: “Even with all the investments we have made to expand, we need more supply to keep up with demand, and the addition of the Lancaster facility gives us valuable distilling capabilities to support that growth. We’re excited to become part of the Garrard County community.”
The acquisition follows a series of large-scale investments by the company across Kentucky.
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Over the past five years, Sazerac has invested roughly US$50 million at Barton 1792 Distillery. The work included a new boiler house, additional fermenters, expanded bottling operations and three new aging warehouses that increased barrel storage capacity by 25%.
In January 2025, the company completed a 10-year, US$1.2 billion expansion of Buffalo Trace Distillery. That project added a new still house, boiler house, bottling operation, expanded visitor center, 20 fermenters and 19 aging warehouses.
At The Glenmore Distillery, Sazerac has invested approximately US$40 million since 2020. The company is also building new warehouses in Laurel and Taylor Counties.
Local officials welcomed the deal. “We’re pleased to welcome Sazerac to Garrard County and look forward to what this investment will mean for our community,” said Garrard County Judge Executive Chris Elleman.
Kentucky House Speaker Pro Tempore David Meade said: “Sazerac’s investment in Garrard County is another strong example of the continued confidence companies are placing in Kentucky and our signature bourbon industry.”
