In a major step toward redefining whiskey maturation infrastructure, Kentucky Whiskey House (KWH) has announced a landmark partnership with the Koetter Group to construct 12 state-of-the-art barrel warehouses in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. This multi-year collaboration is set to significantly boost the region’s distilling capacity while integrating next-generation storage innovations.
Industry-Leading Warehouse Innovation
Each of the 12 new warehouses will span seven stories and house 48,084 barrels, using Koetter’s proprietary K-RAX barrel storage technology. Construction will take place over the next six years, with Phillips Brothers Construction already having begun work on Warehouses 5 and 6 in March 2025. The first K-RAX warehouse officially broke ground on June 16.
Enhancing Maturation and Safety
The K-RAX design includes a full-length vented dome and perimeter floor vents that optimize air circulation, allowing for better temperature consistency and humidity control—two critical factors in whiskey aging. These features also help reduce alcohol vapor buildup, decreasing wear on both barrels and warehouse structures.
According to David Mandell, Co-Founder and CEO of Whiskey House, “As a leader in custom whiskey brewing, we wanted to provide our valued customers with the most innovative and advanced warehouses in the industry. The Koetter Group provided us with a superior product that significantly improves warehouse maturation, air flow, safety, and durability.”
A Long-Term Vision for Whiskey House
Since opening on July 1, 2024, Whiskey House has produced more than 97,000 barrels of whiskey across 56 unique mash bills and 59 recipes—an impressive feat for a company not yet through its second year of operation. The new warehouses will expand its capacity and reinforce its standing as a powerhouse of custom whiskey production.
Bob Koetter, CEO of the Koetter Group, commented, “We are very excited to be working with Whiskey House. We’ve collaborated with many distilleries over the years to innovate barrel storage, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to bring our advanced solutions to the bourbon industry.”
Legal Setback Addressed
Despite the positive developments, Whiskey House is facing a legal challenge. Buzick Construction, a Bardstown-based company, filed a lawsuit last week seeking $1.65 million in unpaid construction costs related to the development of the distillery. Mandell downplayed the issue, calling it “just a minor issue” and affirming it would be resolved shortly.
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