Overview: A fire broke out at Glenns Creek Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. While several buildings were lost during the incident, all staff members remained safe and the bourbon barrels were not touched.
The Full Story
Fire crews from multiple agencies responded to the scene after flames engulfed a building at approximately 3:30 p.m. Woodford County Judge Executive James Kay noted that the fire began in unused historic buildings and spread to brush and road without touching main operations. The State Fire Marshal’s office has been notified, and authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
The distillery was founded by David Meier, who purchased the property after it sat abandoned for more than 30 years. Meier researched the distillery’s history and recreated his bourbon in the style of the original Dr. Crow recipe. The facility is located in Frankfort, Kentucky (Woodford County).
Brand & Industry History
This area is no stranger to this sort of disaster. A few hundred yards away is the site of the Jim Beam barrel-house fire, which happened in 2019.
What This Means
When the firefighting operations cease, utility companies and the Frankfort Plant Board will restore electric power so the distillery can resume any guest activity that they had planned for tomorrow. Drew Chandler, Woodford County’s emergency manager, emphasized keeping the area safe so the distillery can get back open.
Consumer Takeaway
The incident offers reassurance regarding the safety of the main operations and bourbon barrels despite structural damage to unused historic buildings. Utility restoration is planned for guest activity resumption following the cessation of firefighting operations.
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