Maker’s Mark To Finally Expand Production

By Richard Thomas

According to Louisville Courier-Journal, Maker’s Mark announced Thursday that it is finally set to enact long-shelved expansion plans. This move comes after years of rising demand for Maker’s Mark, and after the Loretto, Kentucky-based distillery attempted to meet that demand last year first by cutting its whiskey from 45 to 42% abv, and then by resorting to barrel rinsing.

The plan announced Thursday is similar to an expansion plan first drawn up by the distillery several years ago, whereby a third still would be added and output increased by 50%, essentially duplicating their successful 1996 expansion. Months after this plan was proposed in 2005, Maker’s Mark was bought by Fortune Brands (later Beam Global). The expansion plan was promptly shelved, and Beam went on to spend millions in the following years on acquiring properties such as Cooley in Ireland and DYC in Spain instead.

Maker’s Mark’s announcement followed confirmation from the state of Kentucky that the distillery would receive $750,000 in tax incentives for what is expected to be a $67 million expansion project. The new still will be in operation after 18 months, with the new warehouses going up over the course of seven years. Whether the plan was put into action as a result of the acquisition of Japanese drinks giant Suntory buying Beam Global in January, or was already in the works prior to that, was not commented upon.