Gov. Beshear Joins Horse Soldier Bourbon for Grand Opening of Horse Soldier Farms, a New $200 Million Distillery and Tourist Attraction in Somerset

SOMERSET, Ky. (July 1, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and leadership from Horse Soldier Bourbon to celebrate the grand opening of the company’s new $200 million distillery and full-scale bourbon tourism attraction in Pulaski County, adding another signature project to Kentucky’s growing bourbon and tourism industries. 

“Bourbon is essential to Kentucky’s success, creating high-quality jobs and helping drive our record-breaking tourism industry across our state,” said Gov. Beshear. “I am happy to be here in Somerset celebrating the next step for Horse Soldier Bourbon and the grand opening of Horse Soldier Farms. I want to thank the company’s leadership for their vision, commitment and belief in the commonwealth and all that this great state has to offer.” 

Horse Soldier Bourbon’s new distillery operation, named Horse Soldier Farms, opens its doors this week and includes a 50,000-square-foot distillery visitor center, along with The Outpost retail center.

“In many ways, this feels like coming home,” said John Koko, president and CEO of Horse Soldier Bourbon. “Our journey began in Kentucky at Fort Campbell. Twenty-five years after 9/11, we’ve returned to build something we hope will endure for generations. Kentucky gave us a quiet place to build – not just a distillery, but a legacy. As citizen-soldiers, we were citizens first, and we remain citizens today. We believe our greatest contribution now is to build: a company, opportunities for others and a brand worthy of Kentucky’s bourbon heritage. As America celebrates its 250th year, we’re honored to add a small chapter to Kentucky’s extraordinary story.”

The company’s origins trace back to Sept. 11, 2001, when the Horse Soldier team was training on the Cumberland River when the call came to defend our nation in its darkest hour. Days later, elite teams of Green Berets were inserted into Afghanistan, some on horseback – dubbed the “Horse Soldiers.” Officially established in 2015, Horse Soldier Bourbon whiskey is handmade with all-natural ingredients, with every bottle molded by steel from the World Trade Center towers. The company’s award-winning bourbon won double gold three times in the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Last month, Gov. Beshear announced that 2025 was the commonwealth’s fourth straight record year for tourism, with $14.6 billion generated in economic impact supporting 96,993 jobs.

Adding bourbon to Somerset’s thriving tourism industry is expected to have a major economic impact in the local community. The distillery will complement Lake Cumberland as the premier, off-the-water attraction in Somerset, bringing new jobs, bourbon and tourism dollars to the region. Currently, the community’s tourism attractions welcome millions of visitors each year, generating over $152 million in economic impact in 2025.

Pulaski County Judge/Executive Marshall Todd noted the company’s ideal fit within the community: “The grand opening of Horse Soldier Farms during our nation’s Independence Day celebration, and locally Lake Cumberland 250, is more than the opening of a world-class distillery—it’s the beginning of a new chapter for Pulaski County. As a veteran-owned business built on service, sacrifice and the American spirit, Horse Soldier Farms is a perfect fit for our community. Their investment places Pulaski County on Kentucky’s bourbon trail in a meaningful way, creating a destination that will bring visitors from across the nation, strengthen our tourism economy, support local businesses and showcase everything that makes this community special. We are proud to welcome Horse Soldier Farms and excited for the opportunities this patriotic and economic partnership will create for generations to come.”

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck highlighted the long-term, positive impact the new experience will have on the region: “One of the most special moments in my time as mayor will always be sitting across the table from John and Elizabeth Koko in New York City as they shared that their team had chosen Somerset as the home of Horse Soldier Farms distillery. In the months leading up to that decision, as we got to know one another and talked about our vision for the future, I realized this wasn’t simply a business looking for a place to invest. It was a group of people who believed in many of the same things we do – faith, family, service, patriotism and creating opportunities for future generations. The distillery is a remarkable destination, but the relationships we’ve built along the way are what I treasure most. Together, we’ve created more than a distillery. We’ve built a legacy that will serve Somerset for generations because it is rooted in shared values and a shared belief in what’s possible.”

The new distillery and tourism experience adds to Kentucky’s signature $8.6 billion bourbon and spirits industry. Since the start of the Beshear administration, Kentucky’s spirits industry has seen more than 118 new-location or expansion announcements contribute to over $5.4 billion in planned investments and more than 2,100 announced full-time jobs. Today, spirits facilities employ more than 5,100 people throughout the state.

Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is excited to welcome a new bourbon attraction to the commonwealth: “What a fitting week for Horse Solider Farms to open. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s birth, we also raise a glass to the Horse Soldier heroes of America and toast their entire team who built this shining new producer of Kentucky’s signature spirit. The KDA proudly welcomes them to Kentucky – the one true, authentic home of America’s only native spirit – and looks forward to adding them to the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour.”

Horse Soldier Bourbon’s investment and job creation furthers what has been the best six-year period for economic growth in state history.