9,000 aging barrels crash to ground after collapse at Barton 1792
A building collapse at the Barton 1792 distillery in Bardstown sent thousands of barrels of aging liquor crashing to the ground.
Bardstown fire officials said the collapse happened at Barton 1792 after 11 a.m. Friday.
Nelson County Emergency Management spokesman Milt Spalding said about 9,000 barrels of aging spirits were affected.
The building houses about 20,000 barrels of aging liquor. Sazerac officials said the barrels were a variety of distilled products of different ages.
Stacks of barrels can be seen in the rubble. Officials spent Friday trying to determine if any alcohol spilled.
"We want to make sure no alcohol got into the ground or water, streams in that area. They are checking that at this time. Right now, everything looks good," Spalding said.
Each barrel holds 53 gallons and weighs about 550 pounds.
Spalding did not know the age of the warehouse. He said it's a wooden structure with a concrete foundation and aluminum siding, which is typical for bourbon rackhouses.
Crews are trying to secure the rest of the building to prevent further collapse.
There are no reports of any injuries.
The EPA is at the scene.
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.
WLKY reached out to the distillery for comment but has not heard back.