Cave City Distilling Company official grand opening
CAVE CITY, Ky. – Cave City Distilling Company officially celebrated its grand opening July 3, becoming the newest stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and adding another attraction to one of the state’s most-visited tourism regions.
Community leaders and business supporters gathered to mark the opening, which they say will strengthen tourism in Cave City and complement nearby destinations such as Mammoth Cave National Park.
“I think this is just the beginning for them,” said Jennifer McNett, tourism director for Cave City Tourism. “They have a great plan and great ideas, and I think that in five years it’s going to be unrecognizable over here. It’s going to be a great expansion for our community.”
The distillery produces bourbon, rum, gin and moonshine and offers tastings, tours and event rentals for visitors.
Master Distiller Luke Jean said joining the Kentucky Bourbon Trail gives the distillery an opportunity to introduce travelers from around the world to Cave City.
“We’re really excited to be part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the heritage that comes with it,” Jean said. “The Bourbon Trail is internationally known, so when people come to experience Kentucky bourbon, they can now stop here in Cave City.”
One of the distillery’s signature products is Mammoth Cave Bourbon, a historic brand that dates back to 1869.
“We were excited to bring it back to the cave and actually produce it right next to Mammoth Cave National Park,” Jean said. “Each bottle represents a piece of Kentucky’s history.”
Jean said the company chose the name Cave City Distilling Company because it wanted the business to reflect and represent the community.
“We truly believe this is Cave City’s front porch, and that’s what we want to be,” he said.
Local tourism leaders believe the distillery’s addition to the Bourbon Trail will encourage visitors to spend more time in the area, benefiting restaurants, hotels and other attractions.
“People will come here because they want to visit the Bourbon Trail,” McNett said. “They’re also going to look for places to eat and other things to do, especially activities for families. It may give us an extra day with visitors that we wouldn’t have had before.”
Organizers said construction of the distillery relied on local contractors, including area construction, HVAC and plumbing companies, helping keep the investment within the community.
Although the company has been producing spirits for five years, leaders say the grand opening marks the beginning of a new chapter as they continue growing their business and promoting Cave City as a destination for bourbon enthusiasts and tourists alike.
