Sazerac has acquired a recently shuttered Kentucky distillery as the company looks to increase production capacity for its growing spirits portfolio.
The Buffalo Trace owner purchased the Garrard County Distilling facility in Lancaster, Kentucky, for about $20 million through a court-ordered auction. Sazerac said the property will provide additional distilling and aging capacity as demand for its brands continues to grow.
“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,” Sazerac President and CEO Jake Wenz said.
The 210-acre property includes two 20,000-square-foot barrel warehouses. Sazerac plans to use the existing infrastructure to support production across its broader portfolio.
Garrard County Distilling opened in 2024 but closed about a year later because of financial difficulties. Sazerac said it plans to hire additional workers as operations resume at the facility.
The acquisition follows several major Sazerac investments in Kentucky. The company completed a $1.2 billion expansion of its Buffalo Trace Distillery last year and invested a combined $90 million in its Barton 1792 Distillery and The Glenmore Distillery.
Sazerac also announced plans last year to invest $1 billion in new and existing facilities in Kentucky and Indiana to further expand spirits production.
While the company recently has expanded into categories including ready-to-drink cocktails and soju (a clear, distilled Korean alcoholic beverage), the Lancaster purchase adds capacity for its longstanding whiskey business and other brands.
“Kentucky has been an important part of Sazerac’s story for many years, and we’re proud to continue investing and growing here,” Wenz said.
Sazerac currently employs nearly 3,000 people across its Kentucky operations.