Diageo today announced its intention to build a new distilled spirits manufacturing facility in Kentucky, to support its growth ambition in the bourbon and American whiskey categories.

This project will represent a further investment in Kentucky’s spirits industry of $130 million over three years.

The proposed facility will consist of a distillery, dry house and warehousing in Marion County’s Lebanon, Kentucky, with the capability to distill a variety of Diageo bourbon and American whiskey brands. This facility will supplement the company’s other Kentucky operations: Stitzel-Weller in Louisville, and The Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville.

Diageo has also received approval of an incentive package from the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority that will allow the company to take the next step toward building this new manufacturing facility. The company anticipates the creation of 30 new full-time jobs at the site.

“We thank the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, Governor Matt Bevin, the Marion County Industrial Foundation, and the City of Lebanon for their continued support of Diageo as we look to further invest in Kentucky’s spirits industry,” says Barry Becton, senior director federal affairs and whiskey at Diageo North America. “Bourbon and American whiskey are vibrant and growing categories and we are excited to expand Diageo’s footprint in Kentucky to support our ambitions in this space.”

Diageo’s Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville began operations in 2017, and a new Visitor Experience at that site is scheduled to open its doors to the public in the summer of 2019. Diageo’s Stitzel-Weller distillery in Louisville is home to the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience.