Its bourbons have sold out and won awards. Now they are building a Kentucky distillery
A spirits brand that has been making a lot of waves with its limited releases is planning to build its own distillery in Georgetown.
This will be the first whiskey operation in Scott County in 50 years, according to the state. Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority last Thursday approved $850,000 in tax incentives for the $51 million project, which is expected to create 45 jobs.
Blue Run Spirits plans to build a 35,000-square-foot distillery and a 20,000-square-foot rickhouse at Lanes Run Business Park near Toyota. Blue Run also plans to establish headquarters there, according to a news release.
“When we started Blue Run Spirits in October of 2020, we never imagined a distillery would be in our future, but our unprecedented growth has deemed that a necessity, which is an incredibly exciting prospect for our entire team,” said Blue Run Spirits CEO and co-founder Mike Montgomery, in a statement. “The generous support of the commonwealth is making this a reality. We look forward to becoming a dynamic contributor to the economic vibrancy of Scott County and Georgetown and deepening our connection to an area so significant in the rich history and the promising future of bourbon in Kentucky.”
Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry has been growing exponentially in recent years with billions more in expansions and new distilleries planned. Tax incentives were approved another major distillery project on Thursday; IJW Whiskey Co. is expected to announce a $200 million project in Shelby County that was approved for up to $3.5 million in tax incentives.
Since Blue Run was founded in 2020, the company has released 10 bourbons and rye whiskies, according to the release. Many releases have sold out in minutes and gone on to win prestigious awards.
In June, Blue Run hired Shaylyn Gammon, who created the best whiskey of 2021 at Wild Turkey, to work with former Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge to elevate Blue Run’s current inventory.
