GARRARD COUNTY, Ky. (LEX News) — Sazerac announced Friday that it has acquired the Garrard County Distilling facility in Lancaster, adding another Kentucky operation to its growing portfolio as it works to meet demand for its spirits brands.
The Lancaster distillery, which opened in 2024, sits on approximately 210 acres and includes two column stills and two 20,000-square-foot barrel warehouses. Sazerac said the facility will provide additional production capacity and support future growth across its brands, which include Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Weller and Fireball.
The acquisition expands Sazerac's Kentucky footprint, which already includes Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown and The Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro.
"Kentucky has been an important part of Sazerac's story for many years, and we're proud to continue investing and growing here," Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz said in a news release. "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."
RELATED: Garrard County Distilling property sells at court-ordered auction for $20 million
According to the company, it expects to hire additional team members for the facility, with staffing expected to grow as operations develop.
The announcement comes months after the Garrard County Distilling property was sold at a court-ordered auction for $20 million. At the time, officials said they hoped new ownership would help restart operations and bring jobs back to the area.
Local leaders welcomed the acquisition.
"We're pleased to welcome Sazerac to Garrard County and look forward to what this investment will mean for our community," Garrard County Judge-Executive Chris Elleman said. "Sazerac's decision to invest here brings new jobs and economic opportunity to our county while positioning this distillery for continued growth."
Kentucky House Speaker Pro Tempore David Meade called the acquisition "another strong example of the continued confidence companies are placing in Kentucky and our signature bourbon industry."
Sazerac has made several major investments in Kentucky in recent years, including the completion of a $1.2 billion, 10-year expansion project at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort in 2025. The company said it has also invested millions of dollars in upgrades at Barton 1792 Distillery and The Glenmore Distillery, while expanding barrel storage capacity across the state.
RELATED: Garrard County distillery shutdown leaves workers in limbo
