Recent fire pushes back completion date for new distillery

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A recent fire along Louisville’s historic Whiskey Row will push back the opening of an Old Forester Distillery to 2017.

Brown-Forman Corp. officials say the buildings being converted into the new downtown distillery were spared thanks to the efforts of firefighters. Neighboring buildings sustained heavy damage from the massive fire a couple of weeks ago.

The Kentucky-based spirits company on Wednesday celebrated the upcoming start of construction of the distillery.

The company originally hoped to complete the $45 million project in fall 2016.

The new facility will allow Brown-Forman to double production of Old Forester, the company’s founding brand.

Old Forester sales slumped for decades, but the brand has begun a revival in recent years.

The new distillery also marks the continued comeback of bourbon interests along Whiskey Row.