Kentucky’s newest distillery has started production in a county that was dry until a November referendum. The Garrard County Distilling Company, owned by Atlanta-based Staghorn, is just inside the city limits of Lancaster, which was already wet. Lancaster Mayor Michael Gaffney said the company has already hired at least 50 people for their 250-million dollar facility and plans to employ more.
“You think about 60 full time jobs here in Lancaster that are really good jobs, good paying jobs. That's definitely something that our community has needed for a very long time. And, you know, not just having those jobs here in the community, but they're hiring local people.”
Gaffney said across the road, another company is building rickhouses to store the bourbon. According to the Beshear Administration, up to 24 warehouses are planned there by 2030, along with a tasting room and restaurant opening by the end of this year.
“The excitement that I have, that the community has, for them being here, I think is only going to be a benefit moving, you know, 5-10 years down the road, and we won't see the full effect of them being here, probably 20, 25, 30 years.”
Gaffney said the site’s likely addition to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail will be another economic shot in the arm for Lancaster and Garrard County.
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