Newest stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail caps off $100 million investment

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (April 15, 2014)– Wild Turkey Distillery on Tuesday celebrated the grand opening of its new visitor center in Lawrenceburg.

“This visitor center is the crowning achievement for Wild Turkey,” said Gov. Steve Beshear, who attended the ceremony. “Several years of production-specific upgrades and financial stimulus have provided an economic boost to this county and beyond. As we continue to grow awareness for our bourbon culture, we look forward to welcoming our fellow Kentuckians, Americans and visitors from abroad to the Wild Turkey Distillery and the entire Kentucky Bourbon Trail.”

The more than 9,000-s.f. visitor center is expected to be a mecca for bourbon lovers and Wild Turkey fans across the globe. As the only destination on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail offering full visibility and complete access to the art and science of making bourbon, the distillery expects to welcome approximately 80,000 guests this year.

“Last year, our visitor center was housed in a tiny 1,000-square-foot house from the 1800s and we still saw a 16 percent spike in visitors to Wild Turkey Hill,” said Jean-Jacques Dubau, president and CEO, Campari America. “With our gleaming, new architectural masterpiece, we finally have a visitor center worthy of Wild Turkey’s legacy, as well as an outstanding calling card for Kentucky’s bourbon industry.”

The grand opening of the visitor center caps off a more than $100 million investment by Gruppo Campari to thoroughly modernize and expand the distillery experience. Guests can sip and savor bourbon seven days a week while receiving an historical indoctrination into one of the oldest distillery operations in Kentucky. Exclusive keepsakes in the gift shop include recent, limited-edition products, allowing visitors to bring a taste of Kentucky home with them.

“Tourism is one of Kentucky’s top industries with a multi-billion dollar economic impact in the commonwealth,” said Sen. Julian Carroll of Frankfort. “We are continuously trying to grow that industry and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is an important part of the commonwealth’s tourism makeup. This new center at Wild Turkey will not only impact the industry, but make the experience more enjoyable for visitors.”

“I want to thank Gruppo Campari for its continued investment in the facilities here at Wild Turkey Hill,” said Lawrenceburg Mayor Edwinna Baker. “The investments made on this property are not just in facilities, but in the people of this area – the dedicated workers at this facility and all of our great community.”

“On behalf of the Anderson County Fiscal Court and the residents of Lawrenceburg and Anderson County, we are very proud that Gruppo Campari has brought a state-of-the-art visitor center to the Kentucky Wild Turkey facility,” said Anderson County Judge-Executive John Wayne Conway.

The grand opening celebration also marks legendary Master Distiller Jimmy Russell’s 60th year of service with Wild Turkey. Russell stands as the longest-serving, active master distiller of a major whiskey brand in not just Kentucky, but all of North America.

For more information on Wild Turkey, visit wildturkeybourbon.com.