Kentucky bourbon maker Willett opens second distillery, with more growth coming
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- Willett opened a second 70,000-square-foot distillery in Springfield, Ky.
- The Springfield site filled its first barrel on June 18.
- The new campus is expected to create 35 full-time jobs and grow visitor offerings.
Willett, one of Kentucky’s most popular bourbon producers, has quietly expanded its operations with a second distillery.
A new 70,000-square-foot distillery has opened in Springfield, in Washington County. The distillery filled its first barrel on June 18, the birthday of the late Martha Willett Kulsveen, matriarch of the family-owned distillery.
“This first barrel represents an important moment for our family, our team and the future of Willett Distillery,” said Willett master distiller Drew Kulsveen in an announcement. “Beginning production in Springfield allows us to grow while continuing to honor the people, places and traditions that have made Willett what it is today.”
While Willett did not reveal specific dollar figures for the new distillery, they did say it “represents a significant investment in the bourbon world.”
The campus, which is not yet complete, includes a new distillery, barrel storage warehouses and capacity to grow visitor experiences on the 150-acre site. It is expected to create 35 full-time jobs as operations grow.
A visitors center will be added eventually, and the site will join the Kentucky Bourbon Trail once completed, according to the news release.
The new Willett Distillery is in the same area as the new Potter Jane Distillery and an expansion by Michter’s.
Operations in Bardstown at the existing historic Nelson County distillery and campus will continue. The distillery established in 1936 on the original family hog farm.
“Our Bardstown roots remain at the heart of who we are,” Kulsveen said. “Springfield gives us room to grow while allowing us to continue building on the legacy, craftsmanship and hospitality that have always defined Willett. We are proud to invest in Washington County and grateful for the support we have received from the local community.”
