There’s a particular kind of confidence required to build a brand-new distillery in 2026, as the bourbon industry is in the middle of a hard correction.
Jim Beam paused production at its flagship Clermont facility for the entire year, Kentucky warehouses are sitting on a record 16-plus million aging barrels, and U.S. whiskey distillers cut output sharply through 2025 as younger drinkers buy less and the boom-era oversupply works its way through the system.
So when I heard that Willett Distillery — independent, family-owned, nearly 90 years old — had just filled the first barrel at an all-new facility, my reaction was definitely on the side of cautious curiosity.
Here are the facts. On June 18, Willett brought production online at its new Springfield, Kentucky site, officially beginning operations at the Washington County campus. They chose that date to mark the birthday of the late Martha Kulsveen, wife of Bourbon Hall of Famer Even Kulsveen, who resurrected the Willett Distillery from dormancy in the 1970s.
The Springfield build is pretty substantial: a 70,000-square-foot distillery on 150 acres, with room for future visitor experiences, and an expected staff of 35 people full-time as it scales.
“This first barrel represents an important moment for our family, our team and the future of Willett Distillery,” said Master Distiller Drew Kulsveen.
Crucially, nothing is moving from their current Bardstown setup — tastings, bottling, dining, and warehousing all stay in Nelson County. Springfield is an addition, not a relocation.
Building an Expansion in the Era of Contraction
The current correction is squeezing producers from both ends: barrels cost money to hold, Kentucky’s barrel tax tab hit roughly $75 million, and interest rates have made aging inventory a far more expensive proposition than it was during the zero-rate boom years.
Understandably, most of the industry is pruning. Brown-Forman cut its workforce by about 12% and shuttered its Louisville cooperage, while MGP Ingredients idled two of its Kentucky distilleries (Lux Row in Bardstown and Limestone Branch in Lebanon) and is laying off staff until inventory levels justify distilling again.
It’s a contrast to the recent strategy angle taken at Coors Whiskey Co., where Molson Coors spent years, and a reported $75 million Blue Run write-down, trying to buy its way into whiskey before course-correcting.
The companies are distinct, and Willett has different goals, but either way, both groups are betting that demand for premium American whiskey outlasts the slump.
Where can I buy it?
The new whiskey certainly won’t be ready for years to come; at least two, if they’re going by the absolute legal minimum for bourbon. That said, you’ll likely be tasting it as part of their blending program before you even know it; you can check the Willett website for more info.
