#USA #Kentucky #Whiskey House #Elizabethtown #Koetter Group

Whiskey House of Kentucky and The Koetter Group Join Forces

Whiskey House of Kentucky, celebrated as the most advanced custom whiskey distillery in the United States, has announced a strategic partnership with The Koetter Group. This collaboration aims to construct a series of twelve state-of-the-art rickhouses over the next six years, revolutionizing the storage and maturation process of whiskey. The innovative design will include the K-RAX barrel storage technology, marking a significant leap in the industry.

Located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, each proposed rickhouse is set to stand seven stories tall and accommodate approximately 48,048 barrels. This ambitious project prioritizes essential elements such as barrel maturation performance, worker safety, and overall structural integrity. Through this partnership, Whiskey House seeks to maintain its leading position in the market while delivering exceptional products to its exclusive customers.

David Mandell, co-founder and CEO of Whiskey House, expressed enthusiasm regarding the collaboration, stating, "As the leader in custom whiskey production, we want the most innovative and advanced rickhouses in the industry for our exclusive customers. The Koetter Group provides us with an incredible product that delivers significant improvements in warehouse maturation, air flow, safety, and durability."

Cutting-Edge Warehouse Design

The K-RAX design integrates a full-length vented cupola, enhancing airflow and maturation performance. Alongside this, continuous floor vents placed around the perimeter of the buildings will allow for lower vapor buildup, mitigating chances of alcohol vapors damaging barrels and infrastructure. Safety for workers and contractors is also enhanced with the practical features like full-width walk boards and wire mesh fall protection.

Moreover, the rickhouses will be constructed using Southern yellow pine, which is glue-laminated, heat-treated, and kiln-dried. This robust material prevents damage from powder post beetles and ensures a tight fit with CNC machined connections. This design eschews the need for traditional methods like plumb bobs, thus enabling a more efficient loading and unloading process from various floors of the buildings without compromising structural integrity.

Bob Koetter, owner and CEO of the Koetter Group, voiced his excitement about the partnership. "We have been approached by numerous distilleries to innovate barrel-storage warehouses, and we are grateful that Whiskey House is trusting us to bring our advanced solutions to the bourbon industry."

Timeline and Future Prospects

The construction efforts for the fifth and sixth warehouses began in early March 2025, with Phillips Brothers Construction handling civil works. The Koetter Group is expected to mobilize on-site as of May 26, initiating construction on warehouse five from June 16, 2025.

This announcement underscores Whiskey House's commitment to transforming the contract whiskey manufacturing landscape. Since commencing operations on July 1, 2024, the distillery has already produced over 97,000 barrels, offering 56 unique mash bills and 59 different recipes for its distinguished clientele. Their highly sophisticated, fully automated 110,000 square-foot facility operates around the clock using proprietary software, further enhancing their production capabilities.

About Whiskey House of Kentucky

Whiskey House of Kentucky stands out as one of the most advanced distilleries globally, designed to produce premium customized American whiskey for the industry’s most discerning brands. By implementing best practices from advanced food manufacturing, Whiskey House ensures unparalleled quality, flexibility, and the ability to keep pace with innovation in the spirits sector. Notably, it does not carry its own brands, thus eliminating potential conflicts of interest. The company is focused on providing superior custom whiskey production and exceptional service to its esteemed clients.

About The Koetter Group

Founded in 1954, The Koetter Group is a family-owned leader in commercial contracting and development in Southern Indiana and the Greater Louisville area. With multiple divisions, including construction and premium barrel storage solutions, The Koetter Group operates on principles of quality, integrity, and strong client relationships.

For further details, please visit Whiskey House of Kentucky and The Koetter Group.