Bourbon barrel factory headed for Southern Indiana

A Kentucky whiskey maker wants Indiana lumber for its bourbon barrels.

Brown-Forman Corp., whose brands include Jack Daniel’s and Southern Comfort, said Thursday it will spend $12 million to buy and expand an Owen County mill to make wooden staves and end pieces for bourbon barrels.

It will be the first Indiana operations for Louisville-based Brown-Forman, one of the largest wine and spirits companies in the world, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. said. The 15,000-square-foot mill, located in Spencer, will be expanded and 50 people hired to run it.

The barrels will be assembled at another location.

“As the Brown-Forman whiskey portfolio expands, we continue to look for new outlets for increased capacity,” said Greg Roshkowski, vice president and general manager at Brown-Forman. “We’re excited to develop operations in a new region as this new mill in Indiana will provide the materials we need to continue to grow the Brown-Forman brand.”

The IEDC offered Brown-Forman up to $350,000 in state tax credits if it creates the promised jobs.

Founded in 1870, Brown-Forman sells 25 wine and spirit brands. And it has a long history of barrel-making. Its original brand, Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, was America’s first bottled bourbon.

Call Star reporter Jeff Swiatek at (317)444-6483. Follow him on Twitter: @JeffSwiatek