NewsNation/World

Actions

9,000 barrels of bourbon fall in Kentucky distillery building collapse

Posted at 5:17 PM, Jun 22, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-22 19:18:38-04

By Ayana Archie and Phil Gast, CNN

Pardon bourbon lovers for crying in their beer after half of the barrels being aged at a Kentucky distillery building fell to the ground when part of the structure collapsed.

About 9,000 stacked barrels plummeted to the ground at Barton 1792 Distillery, home of the brand 1792 Bourbon.

The building, which holds up to 20,000 barrels, was having a wall repaired. The collapse brought down half of the building, with the other half still intact.

Bardstown Police Chief Billy Mattingly said there was no one inside when the roof caved in, so no injuries were reported.

It is unclear whether the bourbon spilled from the containers, but a nearby creek was of concern because of the structure’s position on a hill. Representatives from the state’s Department for Environmental Protection were dispatched to the scene.

Water samples came back clean, according to CNN affiliate WLKY.

Distillery officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The building’s owner, the Sazerac Company, also could not be reached.