Garrard County Distilling Co. in Kentucky with the birthplace of Prohibition pioneer Carrie Nation off to the side.

One of the most ambitious new projects to emerge in Kentucky bourbon in years has the potential to make big waves in the whiskey world. The massive Garrard County Distilling Co. just outside Lexington, Kentucky, began filling its first barrels on January 2. Those barrels will soon be joined by many, many, more, the facility can produce 8.5 million gallons or 150,000 barrels of whiskey per year.

Owned by Atlanta-based Staghorn, the $250+ million independent distillery project in Lancaster, KY, will support the company’s brands and provide much-needed liquid for a bevy of other startup and established brands looking for whiskey.

“We are living in the greatest era ever for whiskey; there has been an explosion of interest worldwide,” says Ray Franklin, the founder and president of Staghorn. “Our goal from day one has been to craft the finest whiskeys in the world, and with our new facility, we can fuel the growth of our brands and help others too, plus bring some much-needed jobs to a region looking for them.”

Ray Franklin, the founder and president of Staghorn.

Construction of the facility began during the pandemic, allowing the project to fly under the radar of most whiskey fans. Situated on a 210-acre site, the large distillery has dual towering column stills from Vendome Copper and Brass Works and two rickhouses capable of holding numerous barrels each. Plans are underway to expand the number of rickhouses to a substantial number by 2030, meaning a vast amount of barrels of spirits can be aged onsite.

If Staghorn hasn’t crossed your radar yet, that’s not surprising. The brand was conceived in 2018 by industry expert Franklin and introduced its first product, All Nations Whiskey, in 2020. This was made with whiskey sourced from reputable Kentucky distilleries. Resisting the urge to expand too quickly, All Nations Whiskey was introduced gradually, initially only being released in a certain part of Kentucky and Atlanta as its new premises was under construction.

All Nations bourbons, named in honor of early Prohibition pioneer Carrie Nation, a Kentucky native, vary from premium to super premium quality. Over the past few years, they have been the recipients of multiple Double Gold medals at the esteemed San Francisco World Wine and Spirit competitions.

All Nations Whiskey, the initial brand launched by Staghorn.

In its drive to boost its presence, Staghorn is set to roll out several other fresh brands and offerings in 2024 while concurrently enlarging All Nations with a perspective for nationwide distribution. They boast of 17,000 procured barrels currently aging in their rickhouses as a reserve for this movement. These are expected to bridge the gap until their in-house whiskies ripen in approximately four years. Garrard County Distilling plans on an announcement for a chief distiller at the beginning of February.

The modern facility is likely to pull visitors to the celebrated Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. In order to leverage this influx, Garrard County recently revoked its dry status, a rule dating back to the era of Mrs. Nation, a notable resident. To underscore the significance of Carrie Nation to their brand, Staghorn sponsored the relocation of her actual birth house situated nearby onsite. This stone house will be integrated into a visitor center that will comprise a separate tasting room and a restaurant, scheduled to open by the end of the year.

“The first distillery from Staghorn, Garrard County Distilling Co. showcases their immense devotion and the ambitious scale at which they are venturing into this category. This reflects the global allure of bourbon originating from our wonderful commonwealth,” stated Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. “The investment by Staghorn is a pleasant supplement for the Lancaster and Garrard County communities, as well as for tourism in Kentucky. I express gratitude to the company’s leadership for their vision to progress within the commonwealth, thereby endorsing Kentucky’s status as the world’s bourbon hub.”