KEY TAKEAWAYS: Sazerac, co-headquartered in New Orleans and Louisville, plans approximately $605 million in investments across four Kentucky facilities. The largest project involves $557 million in upgrades to a recently acquired Garrard County distillery, creating 85 jobs. Additional investme nts include $29.4 million at Buffalo Trace, $17.5 million at Glenmore Distillery and $2.1 million at Cumberland Cooperage. The four projects are expected to create 250 jobs and received approval for approximately $5.6 million in state tax incentives.   One of the largest spirits companies based in Kentucky is investing millions of dollars in new projects across the commonwealth. On Oct. 29, Sazerac, the spirits giant co-headquarters in Louisville and New Orleans, that is behind brands like Buffalo Trace, shared plans for more than $600 million in investments during the monthly Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority meeting. The investment, which was supported by roughly $5.6 million in tax incentives approved by KEDFA, will be split across four projects around the state, with the largest sum landing at a project in Garrard County. Other projects will take place in Franklin, Daviess and Laurel counties. Sazerac did not immediately respond to a Courier Journal request for comment regarding its roughly $605 million in investments across Kentucky. Sazerac has purchased a Lancaster, Kentucky, facility known as Garrard County Distilling, which sits on approximately 210 acres includes two, 20,000-square-foot barrel warehouses. The facility opened in 2024 and closed in early 2025 amid financial woes. Source: USA TODAY Network Here’s a look at Sazerac’s newly shared investments and projects across Kentucky: Garrard County distilling facility In August 2026, Sazerac acquired a shuttered Garrard County distillery for $20 million as part of its plans to increase its production capacity, The Courier Journal previously reported. At the time Jake Wenz, president and CEO of Sazerac said in a statement, that “even with all the investments we have made to expand, we need more supply to keep up with demand, and the addition of the Lancaster facility gives us valuable distilling capabilities to support that growth.” As Sazerac plans to build out its capacity, it is investing $557 million into that property with “hopes to undertake a broad capital investment initiative focused on upgrading operations … to meet anticipated future growth,” according to a report published by KEDFA. The project will see $496 million in building improvements and an additional $61 million spent on land and equipment. The Garrard County project was approved for just shy of $2.8 million in tax incentives. A Mattingly Moore Old Fashioned Whiskey from the Harry E. Wilkes Distillery of Louisville — made in 1917 — and a 1917 Kentucky Tavern from the Glenmore Distillery of Owensboro on display at the Frazier Arms Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. Sept. 8, 2025 It is expected to create 85 jobs over 15 years and pay an hourly wage target of $39 per hour, the KEDFA report stated. Buffalo Trace project At its marquee distillery in Franklin County, Sazerac will invest roughly $29.4 million into Buffalo Trace to expand its existing operations. The project at the oldest continually operating distillery in the country, will establish a new craft bottling operation as the brand expands due to increased product demand and anticipated future growth, the KEDFA report stated. More than $20 million of the investment is earmarked for building and improvements. The project is expected to create 40 jobs over 10 years and pay an average hourly wage target of $50. Sazerac was approved for $700,000 in state tax incentives for the Buffalo Trace project. This investment follows the 2025 completion of a 10 years long, $1.2 billion project at Buffalo Trace Distillery to expand the production and warehousing, diversify the distillery’s on-site visitor experiences, and release a variety of new products for consumers, The Courier Journal previously reported. Glenmore Distillery project Sazerac will be expanding existing operations at a Daviess County facility that can trace its operations back to the 1800s. At the Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro, Sazerac plans to invest roughly $17.5 million to “make safety improvements to the location as well as increase operational efficiency for anticipated future growth,” according to the KEDFA report. The project was approved for $1.01 million in tax incentives. It is expected to create 50 jobs over 10 years with an average hourly wage target of $44. Sazarac purchased the Glenmore Distillery in 2009 when it purchased the distillery from Constellation Brands. Recently, it revived the Glenmore Distillery name with the launch of two whiskey products. Cumberland Cooperage project Rounding out the wave of October investments shared by Sazerac is a $2.1 million expansion at its Cumberland Cooperage facility in Laurel County. Cumberland Cooperage produces wooden barrels for the distilling industry and Sazerac plans to upgrade its facilities and equipment as it prepares for future growth. The project aims to create 75 jobs in seven years, paying an average hourly wage of $36. This project was approved for $1.05 million in tax incentives. Contact Business Reporter Olivia Evans at [email protected] or at 502-582-4144. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Sazerac invests more than $600 million across four Kentucky sites Reporting by Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal / Louisville Courier Journal USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect ...read more read less