KY distiller known for aging bourbon underground buys Pikeville brewery, distillery
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Brothers Wright Distilling acquired Dueling Barrels to expand Pikeville operations.
- The acquisition adds 40,000-barrel annual capacity and preserves local jobs.
- Underground mine site expands with new packaging line, museum and tourism venues.
An Eastern Kentucky distillery known for its unique approach to aging bourbon in a century-old coal mine is expanding its business by acquiring Dueling Barrels Brewery and Distillery, based in Pikeville.
In a July 10 news release, Alltech’s Lyons Brewing and Distilling Co. announced it had transferred ownership of the Dueling Barrels facility to Brothers Wright Distilling Co.
Based in Pike County, Brothers Wright was founded in 2021 by brothers Shannon and Kendall Wright after they acquired a 1,000-acre Pike County farm. Exploring the property, the brothers discovered a coal mine dating to 1913 that could eventually hold thousands of barrels for aging whiskey, according to the company’s website.
The Herald-Leader has contacted Brothers Wright Distilling for more information about its plans for the brewing and distilling operation.
In a statement from Brothers Wright Distilling announcing the acquisition, co-founder Shannon Wright said it amounts to more than just a business expansion.
“It’s a deepening of our investment in Pikeville, Pike County and the future of Eastern Kentucky,” Wright said. “We’re proud to be part of the downtown Pikeville scene and are committed to growing not just our business, but the entire region’s economy through job creation, tourism and celebrating the culture that makes this place home.”
Born from the vision of the late Alltech founder Pearse Lyons, Dueling Barrels is Eastern Kentucky’s first combined beer, bourbon and moonshine operation. With his wife Deirdre, Lyons oversaw the facility’s design and construction and it quickly became a popular tourist destination.
According to Lyons Brewing and Distilling, the Dueling Barrels facility totals 30,000 square feet. With its three Vendome copper pot stills and 19 fermenters, it has the capacity to produce 40,000 brewer’s barrels annually, the company’s release said.
Dueling Barrels also features an onsite restaurant, Pearse’s Place, which will remain open and retain its current employees, Lyons Brewing and Distilling said.
What’s next for Dueling Barrels Brewery and Distillery in Pikeville?
With the acquisition, Brother Wright plans to centralize its spirits production in Pikeville, according to the announcement from Lyons Brewing and Distilling.
In addition to its current capacity, Brothers Wright plans to install a 14-inch Vendome column still to further expand production. Additionally, the Pearse’s Place restaurant will be moved to the facility’s ground floor, and a small stage will be added to highlight live music. An upstairs venue will also be available to rent for private parties, business events and community gatherings.
There are plans to relocate Dueling Barrels’ 350-gallon moonshine still to the Brothers Wright site in Aflex, the home of the company’s underground barrel-aging mine.
The mine is undergoing a 12,000-square-foot expansion. The project will add a barrel filling and packaging line, a coal mining museum, restaurant, music venue and tours to the site.