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The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Heaven’s Door Distillery in Henry County as the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.
Heaven’s Door is a collection of handcrafted Bourbon and American whiskeys co-created in 2018 with the legendary Bob Dylan, one of the greatest singer-songwriters ever. The picturesque distillery, located in Pleasureville, plans to open to the public in Spring of 2024.
The unique bespoke iron gates showcased on bottles of Heaven’s Door were created by Dylan at his metalworking shop, Black Buffalo Ironworks. The fascinating gates are made of found objects collected from farms and scrap yards across America.
“Heaven’s Door is proud to join the KDA and collaborate among the best distillers in the world,” said Emily McGee, the distillery’s Director of Business Development. “We look forward to gaining the knowledge, exposure and experience that the KDA offers its members.”
KDA President Eric Gregory said Heaven’s Door will be an immediate tourism draw thanks to its association with Dylan and its remarkable natural beauty over 160 acres of rolling hills.
“It has been exciting to watch this project quietly unfold over the last few years,” Gregory said. “Pairing Bob Dylan’s artistic genius with Kentucky’s iconic spirit makes for a can’t miss experience that will bring tourists and fans from across the world to the birthplace of Bourbon.”
Gregory also thanked Henry County officials for welcoming and working with the distillery, which will create more than 50 jobs, source grains from local farms, and help drive economic growth and other tourism opportunities.
Led by noted Master Distiller Ken Pierce, the distillery will features two separate stillhouses, each in its own towering western horse barn, a visitor’s center with tasting rooms and lounges overlooking Six Mile Creek, an 18th-century grist mill, two 18th-century cabins and a Moravian barn, all of which have been painstakingly restored.
Heaven’s Door is dedicated to sustainable practices, utilizing an underground aquifer to access Kentucky’s pure limestone water for its distilling and geothermal heating and cooling of its buildings. It also supplies protein-rich stillage as feed for cattle on surrounding farms.
Additionally, Heaven’s Door was just recognized as one of only five distilleries in Kentucky to be the first to earn an EPA ENERGY STAR RATING. This means they use less energy and contribute to less greenhouse emissions than traditional distilleries.
