BREAKING: Bardstown Bourbon Company is BUYING Green River Distillery (Owensboro, KY)

Green River Distillery
Green River Distillery. Owensboro, KY

This is interesting.

Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBCo) has announced their plans to buy Green River Distillery (Formerly O.Z. Tyler) in Owensboro, KY.

BBCo, est 2014, leaped directly out of the gates with a business plan for contract distilling, meaning they will work with you and make your whiskey to the mashbill and specs of your choosing. In a culinary sense, think of it as using their kitchen, ingredients, and expertise to make the meal you want. They also have a growing vastness of barrel rickhouses on their property to store whiskey.

Bardstown Bourbon Company.

Green River Distillery launched their inaugural Bourbon just this year, to a fantastic response from the Bourbon community. The taste profile is on point (I personally recommend it), the bottle is striking, and it’s a very affordable MSRP $34.99. The distillery grounds go back well over 100 years. Led by Master Distiller, Jacob Call (8th Gen KY distiller), GRD also has made a name for itself in the contract distilling and non-distillery producer (NDP) world.

Courtesy. Green River Distillery inaugural Bourbon Release.

The transaction will bring together two leading Kentucky bourbon producers into a strong, independent spirits company with a commitment to Kentucky whiskey.

Distilling more than seven million proof gallons annually, Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the top 10 distilled spirits producers in the country. As a complement to its innovative contract distilling capabilities, Bardstown Bourbon Company has steadily built its own brand through its award-winning Discovery, Fusion and Collaborative Series. Green River Spirits Company will add the Green River brand as well as two production sites, positioning the combined business for continued growth in both Kentucky whiskey and custom distillation. Bringing together the historic legacy of Green River and the modern bourbon experience at Bardstown Bourbon Company provides an enticing and distinguished selection of Kentucky whiskey for bourbon drinkers and visitors.  

“We’re excited to forge this new partnership, which brings together two world-class teams and expands the breadth of our portfolio and the number of customers served,” said Mark Erwin, CEO of Bardstown Bourbon Company. “Bardstown Bourbon Company was founded to honor the traditions and history of Kentucky bourbon while taking a wholly modern approach. The addition of one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky allows us to offer a comprehensive assortment that showcases the state’s flagship industry.”

The acquisition includes the historic Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky, which is the 10th oldest distillery in the state, and a state-of-the-art spirits production facility in Charleston, South Carolina. In addition to its flagship Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Green River Spirits Company has a vibrant contract distillation business producing whiskey, rye, vodka, rum, gin, and flavored whiskey. 

Bardstown Bourbon Company was founded by Peter Loftin in 2014 to offer custom distilling solutions to brands seeking scale or customization in the American whiskey market. Bardstown Bourbon Company’s branded whiskies are now available in 20 markets nationwide. 

About Bardstown Bourbon Company

The Bardstown Bourbon Company is a new blend of bourbon maker that honors the traditional art of making whiskey while pushing the boundaries through innovation. Bardstown Bourbon produces the highest-quality Kentucky bourbon and rye whiskey using some of the most sophisticated technology in the industry. In addition to producing its award-winning Discovery, Fusion and Collaborative Series bourbons, Bardstown Bourbon’s renowned team provides custom production for other premier whiskey and bourbon brands through its one-of-a-kind Collaborative Distilling Program. Set on 100 acres of farmland in the heart of Bardstown, Kentucky, the “Bourbon Capital of the World”, the Bardstown Bourbon campus is the first Napa Valley-style destination on the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail to combine distilling, culinary, and beverage expertise to create a modern, authentic bourbon experience. For more information visit BardstownBourbon.com.

About Green River Spirits Company

Green River Spirits Company is a leading spirits company specializing in the production of award winning spirits and providing world class logistics support for retail partners, individual brand owners, and exporters, including some of the fastest-growing spirits brands in the country. Green River Spirits Company owns and operates the historic Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro, Kentucky and a state-of-the-art spirits production facility in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, visit greenriverspirits.com.