Distilling Big Ambitions
Kentucky bourbon has always rewarded patience. In Somerset, a $200 million bet on whiskey, tourism and regional growth shows that some investments are meant to mature well beyond the barrel.
A New Stop With Statewide Reach
The grand opening of Horse Soldier Farms gives Pulaski County a major new place on Kentucky’s bourbon map. The 240-acre destination is home to American Freedom Distillery, where Horse Soldier Bourbon is now produced, along with a 50,000-square-foot visitor center, retail space, tours and experiences designed to keep travelers around longer than a quick tasting.
That matters in Somerset, where Lake Cumberland already draws millions of visitors for boating, fishing and vacations. Horse Soldier Farms adds a substantial off-the-water attraction, giving travelers another reason to book a room, eat locally and explore nearby businesses. Pulaski County tourism generated more than $152 million in economic impact during 2025, and the distillery’s arrival creates room for that number to grow.
The project also carries a distinctly Kentucky combination of manufacturing and hospitality. Bourbon is made on-site, but the finished bottle is only part of the business model. The property turns production into a destination, where visitors can see the process, hear the story and spend an afternoon on land overlooking the Lake Cumberland region. That blend has become one of bourbon tourism’s strongest ingredients, right alongside corn and oak.
Growth Beyond the Usual ZIP Codes
Kentucky tourism produced a record $14.6 billion in economic impact in 2025 and supported nearly 97,000 jobs. Meanwhile, the state’s spirits industry has announced more than $5.4 billion in planned investments and over 2,100 full-time jobs since the beginning of the Beshear administration.
Those numbers help explain why Horse Soldier Farms is bigger than one ribbon-cutting. Destination manufacturers support construction crews, hospitality workers, suppliers, restaurants, retailers and the smaller businesses that benefit when new visitors arrive with a free afternoon and money to spend.
The investment also shows that large-scale economic development does not have to stop at Kentucky’s biggest cities. Pulaski County and the City of Somerset offer access to outdoor tourism, an established visitor base and enough regional character to make the location part of the experience.
Kentucky has spent generations building its bourbon reputation. Horse Soldier Farms suggests the next chapter may be about using that reputation to spread opportunity farther across the commonwealth, one carefully planned destination at a time.
Find more Kentucky distilleries and bourbon destinations in the directory! https://www.guidetokentucky.com/distilleries
