Horse Soldier Bourbon made big headlines last October with a ground breaking ceremony for its scripted $200 MILLION distillery investment in Somerset, KY.
They are now adding to that footprint with plans for a restaurant and cocktail destination in downtown Somerset with the purchase of a 5,000 squ ft building. It will be modeled after The Urban Stillhouse, the company’s ultimate Horse Soldier experience in the warehouse arts district of St. Petersburg, Florida.
The Urban Stillhouse in St. Petersburg — owned by Meredith Koko, daughter of Horse Soldier Bourbon President John Koko — offers “robust brunch, dinner, and drink menus complete with tasting flights and signature drinks,” according to a SPEDA (Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority) news release.
“Somerset almost immediately felt like home to us when we started this journey in 2019,” Meredith Koko said. “When we walked downtown’s streets, we could feel the excitement about this community’s bold transformation and we wanted to be a part of that.”
Construction on the upcoming restaurant began in March as it is reported that construction will soon begin on the colossal distillery project that will sit atop of a former 227 acre golf course.
Highlights of the distillery plans include:
- 27,585-square-foot distillery visitor center
- 4,600-square-foot activity center
- 5,000-capacity amphitheater
- 500-person outdoor event space and adventure center
- 3,200-square-foot wedding chapel
- 60-key luxury lodge and 20 cabins
- Retail village with about 15 different shops particularly focusing on local products.
The brand is led by founders John Koko (President/CEO), Scott Neil, Bob Pennington, and Mark Neutch and is a member of the Foley Family of Wines (FFW) portfolio. Their backstory is remarkable. Per Commonwealth Journal, the founders of Horse Soldier Bourbon were part of the first U.S. Army Special Forces unit to enter Afghanistan following the events of 9/11, crossing the rough terrain on horseback. Their story was illustrated in the film 12 Strong starring Chris Hemsworth.
For more on Horse Soldier Bourbon’s $200M ground breaking ceremony, CLICK HERE.
