It was a special moment—one you just don’t forget. Legendary brand’s new Bardstown-based New Heaven Hill Springs Distillery filled its first barrel on April 7. Of course, the site itself looks gorgeous and state-of-the-art. It’s a $200 million investment, and the Shapira family’s (Heaven Hill’s owners) track record suggests they know what they’re doing—to put it lightly. But that’s not it.

No, what really makes a day like this stand out is seeing an iconic Bourbon figure like Max Shapira tell the crowd how his family made an initial investment of $15,000 in 1935 to start what is now the largest independently owned Bourbon maker in the world. It’s the sentiment of seeing him stand alongside his daughter, Kate Latts (Heaven Hill Co-President), and her husband, Allan Latts (Co-President), with second and third generations so closely united. It was Max’s father, Ed Shapira, and Ed’s four brothers who established the resilient roots of Heaven Hill in 1935. To say they’ve come a long way—that just doesn’t begin to do it justice.

Now, nearly three decades after a fire destroyed the original “Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery” facility in 1996, the event celebrates the return of distilling to the Bourbon Capital of the World and ushers in a historic new era for Heaven Hill. Currently, Heaven Hill has over 2 million barrels aging in nearly 70 warehouses, roughly 15% of all resting Bourbon barrels.

The project sets the foundation for Heaven Hill’s next chapter as the company approaches its 90th anniversary on December 13, 2025—exactly 90 years after the Shapira brothers filled their first barrel in 1935.

“Filling first barrel is both homecoming and major step into the future of Heaven Hill,” said Allan Latts, co-president of Heaven Hill Brands. “The Heaven Hill Springs Distillery reflects our deep roots in Bardstown, our long-term commitment to American Whiskey, and our investment in building for the next 90 years with care, intention and pride.”

The Heaven Hill Springs Distillery will initially produce 150,000 barrels annually, with capacity scalable up to 450,000 barrels. It joins the company’s historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, which has remained a cornerstone of Heaven Hill’s distilling operations since 1999. As the largest single-site Bourbon distillery in the country, Bernheim has played a critical role in carrying forward Heaven Hill’s legacy, producing award-winning whiskeys such as Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection and Elijah Craig. Together, these two world-class distilleries position Heaven Hill for continued leadership in American Whiskey.

With this expansion, Heaven Hill cements its position as the largest independent Bourbon producer in the world, a result of their dedicated leadership in the industry and decades of intentional growth—combining new investment in Bardstown with an established footprint in Louisville to support long-term flexibility, innovation and American Whiskey stewardship.

These features reflect Heaven Hill’s commitment to protecting the natural resources that make Bourbon possible. That leadership was recently recognized when Rachel Nally, Heaven Hill’s director of environment and sustainability, was named Sustainability Officer of the Year at the 2025 Global Icons of Whisky Awards.

A Full-Circle Moment Rooted in History

To commemorate the occasion, Heaven Hill invited Charlie Downs, Master Distiller Emeritus, to serve as honorary master distiller for the day leading up to the first barrel filling. Downs is the only employee in company history to have worked in operations at all four of Heaven Hill’s distilling sites: the original Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in Bardstown where he began his career in the 1970s, the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distillery, and now the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.

“Filling this first barrel brings full circle a journey nearly 90 years in the making,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill master distiller and 2025 Icons of Whisky America Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year. “Having Charlie here to mark this moment connects our heritage to our future in the most meaningful way. It reflects the craftsmanship and commitment of the Springs team, whose work brought this facility to life and set the tone for the next chapter of Heaven Hill whiskey.”

The return to Bardstown represents more than the opening of a new facility—it is a legacy investment that honors Heaven Hill’s past, strengthens American Whiskey production today, and ensures continued leadership for decades to come.

The post HISTORIC DAY: Heaven Hill Fills First Barrel at New $200m Distillery in Bardstown first appeared on The Bourbon Review.