![]() In 2004, the Heaven Hill Distilleries Bourbon Heritage Center was opened on the old distillery grounds, providing historical exhibits and guided tours of the plant. The Heaven Hill company strongly emphasizes the history and traditions of bourbon in its public relations, highlighting the company's location in the historical home of bourbon-making and its status as the only such company still under local ownership. While bourbon is still its main focus, Heaven Hill now distributes a wide variety of different products. Hpnotiq is now the fourth highest selling imported liqueur in the US. With the 2003 acquisition of distribution rights to Hpnotiq, Heaven Hill greatly expanded their product base beyond bourbon. While fermenting, mashing, and distilling occurs at the new distillery, aging, bottling, and shipping still occur in Bardstown. The company survived the next several years through the provision of production capacity by its fellow local bourbon labels, Brown-Forman and Jim Beam, until its purchase and adaptation of the Bernheim distillery in Louisville (registered plant DSP-KY-1,) from Diageo in 1999. ![]() a two-mile long stretch of the creek that supplied process water to the distillery was set ablaze for a brief time." Witnesses reported seeing whiskey barrels explode and rocket across the sky like shooting stars. A "river of fire" flowed from the warehouses.įrom one account of the fire: "Flames leapt hundreds of feet into the air and lit the sky throughout the night. 90,000 barrels of flammable bourbon were consumed. The fire started in an aging warehouse and spread to other buildings and vehicles. On November 7, 1996, Heaven Hill's production plant (registered plant DSP-KY-31) was almost completely destroyed by fire. In the past two decades the company has expanded its portfolio, acquiring brands or obtaining import rights for gins, malt whiskey, vodkas, and other drinks. The company was founded as a bourbon distillery, and for most of its existence has concentrated on its flagship bourbon labels, Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. The original name was "Old Heavenhill Springs" distillery. Earl Beam was succeeded by the current Master Distillers, Parker Beam and his son, Craig Beam. He was followed by his son, Harry, who was followed by Earl Beam, the son of Jim Beam's brother, Park. The original Master Distiller was Joseph L. Descendants of the Shapira brothers own and operate the company today.Īll of the Master Distillers at Heaven Hill since its founding have been members of the Beam family. Joe Beam remained as Master Distiller, along with his youngest son, Harry. As the company developed, the five brothers of the Shapira family bought out the other investors. Beam, and a member of the Shapira family. Heaven Hill was founded by several investors shortly after the repeal of Prohibition in 1935, including a prominent distiller, Joseph L.
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