SUNDAY 4-26-2015 Update on Condition of Injured Distillers

BourbonBlog.com learns that Silver Trail Distillery in Hardin, Kentucky has burned to the ground seriously injuring two distillery employees who and being treated now at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. On Friday morning, April 24, there was a massive equipment failure at the distillery which is believed to be what caused the explosion and fire.

We are including video below from WPSD along with an official statement released this morning on Silver Trail Distillery’s facebook page.

“Lifting Spirits” Support Fund has been established by Kentucky Distillers Association at CFSB Bank in Benton, Kentucky to help raise funds for the injured employees including Second Distiller Jay Rogers & his Assistant Kyle Rogers. Click this link to donate or call CFSB at (270) 527-6034 to learn more.

Additionally, a fundraiser has just been organized by Necey Sham of Glenns Creek Distillery and Wes Henderson of Angel’s Envy for May 8th, 2015 in Bardstown, KY at The Rickhouse Restaurant And Lounge on Xavier Drive. Official facebook link here on that event.

The distillery founders and friends ask for thoughts and prayers and BourbonBlog.com asks you share this story in efforts to support all the efforts.

Update on Injured Distillers

Fellow craft distiller Paul Tomaszewski, founder of MB Roland Distillery in Pembroke, Kentucky, tells BourbonBLog.com that his friends at Silver Trail Distillery reached out to him around 10:15 am EST after the fire had just begun. Upon Tomaszewski’s arrival about 11:15 am EST, most of the distillery was burned.

“Jay and Kyle were conscious during the entire situation as they were rushed away – which is obviously a good sign, ” Tomaszewski says. “At the time they were the only two people in the building.”

“The injuries they suffered were not from directly from the flames or being trapped in a burning building, but instead were from the mash or the actual vapor and liquid,” explains Tomaszewski.

About Silver Trail Distillery

Silver Trail Distillery opened in 2011. Founder Spencer Balentine became famous for his “distillery girls” (pictured below), his award winning moonshines, and was also featured on Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners.

For more updates on this story, please subscribe to our newsletter on this link as we will be staying on top of this very sad news in order to help support our friends at Silver Trail Distillery.

Video of Distillery Fire

WPSD Local 6: Your news, weather, and sports authority

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Official Statement From Silver Trail Distillery

Dear Friends,



Around mid morning on Friday, April 24, Silver Trail Distillery experienced what appears to be a massive equipment failure which resulted in the distillery burning to the ground. Second Distiller Jay Rogers & his Assistant Kyle Rogers suffered serious injuries & are now being cared for at Vanderbilt Hospital. We will have more information available as the investigation continues.

In the meantime we ask for everyone to please pray for Jay & Kyle & also for Master Distiller Spencer because his anguish & sorrow has not yet found its depth.

There has also been an account set up for Jay & Kyle at CFSB for anyone who would like to help them.

Please continue to pray for our whole Silver Trail family!

Photos and Video Courtes: WLWT,WPSD