Brown-Forman Closes on Main Street Property

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Brown-Forman Corporation BFA BFB today announced the transfer of the property deed for 117 and 119 West Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky, from Main Street Revitalization LLC to Brown-Forman Corporation for the purchase price of $4.5 million. Stoll Keenon Ogden brokered the deal.

Brown-Forman announced in September 2014 that it will open the Old Forester Distillery in the two historic buildings on Whiskey Row in the fall of 2016.

After a competitive bid process, Messer Construction has been chosen as the managing contractor of the project. The combined buildings have approximately 55,000 square feet with 52 linear feet facing Main Street. The brick and masonry facade of the building will be preserved and fully restored during the project.

The historic properties at 117 and 119 West Main Street were built around 1857 and used for warehousing barrels of whiskey produced at numerous distilleries in the areas. At least nineteen distillers, wholesalers, and other whiskey-related businesses called this block of West Main Street home. Between 1900 and 1919, Brown-Forman operated out of the 117 West Main Street building before moving to its current headquarters at 850 Dixie Highway.

Old Forester was founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. Brown believed Old Forester was of such consistent high quality that he sealed it, signed it, and pledged "There is nothing better in the market." The Old Forester Distillery will celebrate Brown's innovative spirit and his commitment to making the highest quality bourbon. The working distillery will include fermentation, distilling, barrel making, filling and dumping, and bottling.

The company anticipates investing approximately $45 million in this project. The new Old Forester Distillery will allow the company to double its current production of Old Forester.

For more than 140 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Jack Daniel's & Cola, Canadian Mist, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, New Mix, Tuaca, and Woodford Reserve. Brown-Forman's brands are supported by nearly 4,200 employees and sold in approximately 160 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.

America's First Bottled Bourbon®. Please enjoy it responsibly.
Old Forester Straight Bourbon Whisky, 45% Alc. by Volume, Brown-Forman Distillery Company, Louisville, KY ©2014

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