Construction will soon begin on a nearly $10 million Visitor Center at the Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Today, Bulleit Distilling Co. and Diageo executives joined Shelby County elected and community leaders to celebrate the start of construction and enjoy a toast with founder Tom Bulleit. The Visitor Center is expected to open to the public in 2019.
“It’s a thrill to realize that people from around the globe will soon have the opportunity to visit the distillery and learn about Bulleit’s heritage,” said Tom Bulleit. “I speak for every distillery team member when I say how exciting it will be to open our doors and allow our consumers to be part of the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey experience.”
The 11,570-square-foot state-of-the-art Visitor Center will include interactive educational experiences, Bourbon tastings, and retail space. It will be designed to be engaging, technologically advanced and environmentally conscious. Tours of the distillery will highlight Bulleit’s modern whiskey-making process and will include a visit to Tom Bulleit’s office.
“Our vision with Bulleit Distilling Company and the new Visitor Center is to hero the community, culture and partners that have brought Bulleit to boundary-pushers all over the world and established it as a pillar of American whiskey,” said Ed Bello, U.S. & Global Brand Director for Bulleit Frontier Whiskey.
The Visitor Center anticipates employing approximately 30 full- and part-time team members within two years of its opening.
Diageo’s Stitzel-Weller Distillery, located in Louisville, Kentucky will continue to offer tours and remain a stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour. Tours will focus on other Diageo North American whiskey brands, including: Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, I.W. Harper Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Orphan Barrel Whiskey and other innovations to come. Stitzel-Weller is steeped in Bourbon history and is a short drive from downtown Louisville to its Shively location.
