HEAVEN HILL APPOINTS STAFF FOR NEW BOURBON HERITAGE CENTER

[jbutler]

New management for soon-to-open visitor’s center steeped in knowledge of both whisky and whiskey

BARDSTOWN, KY— Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. has named new staff for their upcoming Bourbon Heritage Center visitor’s facility, scheduled to open in mid-October.

The Bourbon Heritage Center, constructed largely of the main constituent materials used in making Bourbon—copper, white oak and limestone—will offer visitors to Heaven Hill a wealth of information and resources on Bourbon history and the process of making Bourbon. Utilizing interactive exhibits and displays, as well as an orientation theater and a giant barrel-shaped tasting room for guided tastings, the Bourbon Heritage Center will highlight the Bourbon industry’s role in the history of the Commonwealth and Heaven Hill’s unique place in that industry.

Heaven Hill, the world’s second largest holder of aging Bourbon and the nation’s seventh largest distilled spirits supplier, will be bringing in to the Bourbon Heritage Center management already experienced in both running a distillery visitor’s center and in the Bourbon-making process and history.

Heading up the team will be director of guest services Lynne Grant, who joins the Bourbon Heritage Center after twelve years of overseeing distillery visitor’s centers in her native Scotland. Grant’s last position was managing The Famous Grouse Experience at the Glenturret Distillery in Crieff, Scotland’s most visited distillery. While at The Famous Grouse Experience, named after Scotland’s best selling whisky, Grant oversaw the development of the Scotch Whisky industry’s most talked about and creative visitor’s center. In addition to her award-winning work on The Famous Grouse Experience—which included a national citation for innovation in the tourism field—Grant also worked to establish critically acclaimed visitor’s centers at The Macallan and Highland Park Distilleries.

Working alongside Grant as manager of guest services will be Christy Boone, a Bardstown native who has been with Heaven Hill for 12 years. Boone moves over to the Bourbon Heritage Center after working as promotions manager in the marketing department, where she oversaw execution of a number of innovative projects and where she became well acquainted with the company’s portfolio of Bourbon and American Whiskey brands. Boone will work with Grant on the day-to-day operations of the facility, including the administration of the on-site retail gift shop, and supervision of the support staff and “Bourbon Hosts”, who will conduct guided tours and tastings.

“The addition of Lynne Grant and Christy Boone to the Bourbon Heritage Center means we have a wealth of relevant experience as we are first opening our doors,” commented Harry J. Shapira, Heaven Hill’s executive vice president and leader of the visitor’s center project. “This experience—in both managing a visitor’s center and in the Bourbon-making process and history—will further help to set the Bourbon Heritage Center apart as the preeminent attraction on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.”

Founded in 1934, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heaven-hill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned marketer and producer of distilled spirits products. Aging in its facilities is the second largest holding of Kentucky whiskey in the world. Heaven Hill's diversified portfolio includes: Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; the full line of The Christian Brothers Brandies; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Whaler's Rum; Burnett's Gin and Vodka; Dubonnet Aperitif; Scotch Whiskies; Irish Whiskeys; Canadian Whiskies; vodka; gins; rums; tequilas; cognacs; liqueurs; cordials; and dessert wines. Heaven Hill is based in Bardstown, Ky.

CONTACT:

Larry Kass

Director of Corporate Communications

Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.

(502)348-3921

lkass@heaven-hill.com