New orleans-founded Sazerac invests $605M in Kentucky. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect//November 3, 2026// 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 investments 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. 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. 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

Sazerac has acquired Full Sail Brewing, an Oregon brewer, to expand production capacity for its growing portfolio of ready-to-drink (RTD) products, the company said. No financial terms were given in the announcement.

Craft brewery Full Sail sells to beverage giant behind BuzzBallz. Kentucky-based Sazerac, whose portfolio includes Pappy Van Winkle and BuzzBallz, confirmed its purchase of the storied Hood River brewer Tuesday. November 03, 2026 4:50PM PST Stories worth knowing. Reporting worth supporting. Willamette Week's biggest fundraiser of the year is underway. Help fund independent reporting that is free for everyone. Give today. Keep the stories coming. Full Sail Brewing, one of the state's oldest craft breweries, has sold to a national brand and closed its Hood River brewpub. Sazerac, a Louisville, Ky.-based spirits giant that owns hundreds of beverage brands, confirmed Tuesday it had purchased the company, telling The Oregonian the acquisition "enables us to add additional capacity and capabilities to our network." The company's portfolio includes well-known spirits such as Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle and Southern Comfort, as well as ready-to-drink brands like BuzzBallz. Sazerac did not immediately respond to inquiries from WW regarding its plans for the Hood River facility, the future of the attached brands, nor the number of employees affected by the change. A call to Full Sail's marketing line went to voicemail. News of the acquisition came on the heels of social media reports that the brewpub had closed abruptly Monday and all restaurant staff had been laid off. Brad Prouty, who identified himself as the weekend brewing lead at Full Sail, wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday morning that he was told Full Sail is now a "100% contract production facility," meaning the brewery would continue operating as an anonymous production plant for other labels. Hood River Brewing Company opened in 1987 in a former cannery in Hood River, just two years after the passage of a landmark law allowing breweries to serve beer at the site of manufacture, which went a long way in making Oregon's craft brewing scene what it is today. The company later renamed itself Full Sail Brewing, in honor of its Full Sail Amber Ale. According to New School Beer, which covers the brewing industry, Full Sail was also the first Oregon brewery to successfully package its beers in 12-ounce bottles. The company became employee-owned in 1999, but in 2015 sold to Encore Consumer Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. Under Encore's ownership, the company pulled back on packaging its full lineup of flagship beers, focusing instead on its Amber Ale and Session lager, and on contract brewing for other brands. Brewers in Oregon and elsewhere have faced bitter headwinds in recent years, with the number of operating breweries declining amid shifting consumer tastes and increased costs. Last year, Rogue Ales and Spirits filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and abruptly shuttered its breweries and pubs, and Anheuser-Busch sold eight of its craft beverage brands (including Oregon brands Widmer, 10 Barrel and Square Mile Cider) to a cannabis company, suggesting larger beer companies are losing interest in the craft beer market. Christen McCurdy is a Portland-based journalist who covers arts and culture for Willamette Week. At least 20% of her verbal output is Simpsons quotes from the '90s. Willamette Week reports the stories worth knowing, from City Hall to the people and places shaping Portland. Help keep the stories coming by supporting WW on Give!Guide.