Horse Soldier Bourbon To Break Ground On $200M Kentucky Distillery

Gov. Andy Beshear announced today the upcoming arrival of Horse Soldier Farms, LLC, a new $200 million tourism development project from the Horse Soldier Bourbon Brand that will bring jobs, a new state of the art facility, distillery, and tourism dollars to Pulaski County.

“Horse Soldier Bourbon is excited to start this new phase of work with the local community in Somerset and Pulaski County.  We understand both the importance of building a good team and the value of finding a place to call home” said Horse Soldier Bourbon CEO John Koko. “From the mountains of Afghanistan to the rolling hills of Kentucky, there’s one thing we’ve seen time and time again – you’re only as good as the company you keep.”

Horse Soldier Bourbon is the award-winning ultra-premium bourbon brand founded by retired members of the U.S. Special Forces — the first to enter Afghanistan on horseback following 9/11. This hand-selected detachment of Green Berets later became known as the “Horse Soldiers”, with their infamous story being bought to life in the 2018 action drama film “12 Strong.”

“Kentucky’s bourbon industry continues to expand bringing quality jobs and tourism dollars to communities in every corner of the commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “Today’s announcement further reiterates our commitment to ensuring Kentucky is a top tourism destination, but also a premiere location for businesses to grow and expand. I want to thank Horse Soldier Bourbon and the leaders in the Somerset community for being an integral part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that Kentucky is a better, brighter place for the future.”

Always looking forward to their next mission, the Horse Soldier Bourbon founders committed themselves in 2014 to make history again, this time, by creating a world leading ultra-premium bourbon brand. Since then, Horse Soldier Bourbon has been expanding its footprint state by state all while developing a long-term investment plan to build a world-class distillery experience in Somerset-Pulaski County. The Horse Soldier team was training on the Cumberland River on 9/11 when the call came that they were needed to defend our nation in its darkest hour. Now 20 years later, they are coming home.

Horse Soldier Farms will be the first southeastern Kentucky distillery experience and serve as a gateway from the south to Kentucky’s legendary bourbon trail.  The distillery project will consist of a 27,585 square-foot distillery visitor center; 4,600 square-foot activity center; 5,000 capacity amphitheater; 500-person outdoor event space; an adventure center, 3,200 square-foot wedding chapel; 60-key luxury lodge and 20 cabins, and a retail village.

Somerset Mayor, Alan Keck, has been a longtime advocate for expanding the state’s thriving bourbon industry to Somerset.

“So much of my vision for Somerset has been about changing the expectation for what people believe is possible. By doing that, we’ve been able to generate excitement in this community that builds every day because we’re telling our story and showing the world how special this community truly is,” said Somerset Mayor Alan Keck.  “I am forever grateful to the Horse Soldier Bourbon team for embracing that excitement and choosing to marry their legendary story with ours. Somerset is home to so many signature Kentucky experiences. I am thrilled bourbon is now one of them and cannot wait to share in the extraordinary experience Horse Soldier Farms will bring to our community.”

On Oct. 19, Horse Soldier Farms will host a private groundbreaking ceremony in Somerset to mark the 20th anniversary of the team’s insertion into Afghanistan.