Michter's Distillery, in the Shively section of Louisville, Kentucky, began distilling in August 2015.1,2,3 Michter's began at a Pennsylvania distillery that closed in 1989, though some sources say 1990.1,3,4 It works in a former factory that Michter's acquired in 2012.5,6
Michter's retrofitted the former Caldwell Industries plant off New Millennium Drive in Shively as a distillery with processing and bottling.5,6 In October 2014, a 46-foot copper column still and a 250-gallon copper pot still doubler, built by Vendome Copper & Brass Works, were installed.7
In 2016, Michter's planned to double capacity from 500,000 to 1,000,000 proof gallons a year, adding four 16,000-gallon fermenters and a second shift.5,10,11 The expanded distillery came back on line in August 2016; Michter's later said its still could make 1.5 million proof gallons but ran at 1 million.5,10,11 In late 2022, Shively, the heart of Michter's production, added a third shift and began distilling 24/7.12,13,14 Michter's also distils at its Fort Nelson site on Whiskey Row, but Shively stays its main plant.12,13,14 In January 2023, new bottling equipment went live, and Michter's said it had added six 18,000-gallon Vendome fermenters in recent years.9,12,13
Andrea Wilson joined Michter's in July 2014, after running Diageo's North American distilling and maturing business.5 In October 2016, Pamela Heilmann took over as master distiller from Willie Pratt, who moved to a flexible schedule as master distiller emeritus.11,15 At the same time, Andrea Wilson added the role of master of maturation, and Dan McKee became distiller.11,15 In May 2019, Dan McKee became master distiller, Heilmann became master distiller emerita, and Matt Bell became distiller.11,16
Besides the column and doubler, the plant has two small pot stills, used as test stills.6,9 Fermentation took three to five days.7,8 Michter's fills barrels at 103 proof (51.5% ABV), toasts them before charring, and uses oak air dried for 18 to 60 months.1,9,17 It ages its whiskey in heat cycled warehouses, at Shively and in rented space, heating and then cooling them in winter.1,9,17
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