Bourbon Distillery Collapses In Kentucky

BARDSTOWN, KY — A bourbon warehouse partially collapsed at a Kentucky distillery Friday, causing thousands of bourbon barrels to fall out of the building, officials said.

The call for the partial collapse at the Barton 1792 Distillery came in just before 11 a.m. About 20,000 barrels were inside the warehouse and approximately 9,000 spilled outside after the collapse, Nelson County Dispatch Director Milton Spalding said at a press conference.

Spalding said authorities are checking if there is a spill or a leak from the warehouse but so far water samples have come back clean. Engineers are on scene trying to secure the remainder of the building.

Spalding, who was at the scene of the collapse, said he couldn't tell if there was any damage or leaks.

"Of course there was the smell of bourbon in the air but that's kind of common in a warehouse facility anyway," he said.

Fire officials told The Kentucky Standard there is concern that the liquor could run into the Beech Fork River that is just 250 feet away.

No injuries were reported in the collapse.

The Bardstown Fire Department, along with Nelson County officials responded to the scene. The Environmental Protection Agency is also on the scene. Cleanup is being handled by the distillery.

According to the Barton 1792 Distillery's website, it was established in 1879 and is the oldest fully-operating distillery in Bardstown. The distillery has 29 barrel aging warehouses.

This report will be updated.

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