Joseph & Joseph Architects has been designing bourbon distilleries for 100+ years. Today is no different except many of our current distilleries make bourbon as well as moonshine, gin and vodka. Our long, rich history allows us to combine experience and the latest technology. The founders’ principles of quality and integrity are the basis of our business.
We serve clients in the public and private sectors, and have completed work in the distillery, healthcare, education, institutional, commercial and residential fields. We also have expertise in historic preservation.
Founded in 1908, our firm is proud that we have open-end contracts that have been in effect since 1935. We feel our clients’ trust reflects our ability to meet their changing needs. In fact, over 80% of our business comes from satisfied, returning clients.
100+ Years of Distillery Design – A Sampling of our History
Four Roses Distillery — The building was one of the first designs by Joseph & Joseph Architects in 1910. The distillery originally opened as the Old Prentice Distillery, was owned by J.T.S. Brown in McBrayer, Kentucky. The building, on the National Register of Historic Places, now houses the Four Roses brand. We are involved in the 2016 Four Roses Distillery expansion to double capacity.
Stitzel Weller Distillery — This distillery complex was said to have opened on Derby Day 1935 in Shively, Kentucky. At the time the complex included a distillery and nine barrel rick houses. The complex is now owned by the Diageo brand and is home to Bulleit Bourbon.
Seagram Distillery — This distillery complex originally opened in 1937 to a crowd of over 71,000 people. The distillery was claimed to be the largest distillery in the world at the time. The complex of buildings included a main office building surrounded by warehouses and production facilities. The complex was interconnected by underground tunnels to facilitate the movement of bourbon.
Some of Today’s Distillery Projects
Today’s project range in size from 5,000 sq. ft. startup craft spirits maker’s to large 90,000+ sq. ft. distilleries.
Angel’s Envy Distillery & Tourist Center — The Angel’s Envy Distillery & Tourist Center site – a 19th century building known as the old Vermont American Complex, located on Louisville’s historic East Main Street – has been restored by Joseph & Joseph Architects. The new distillery includes a column still for expanded production, a bottling line, grain handling equipment and barrel storage areas. The 43-ft. copper still is visible through large arched windows to southbound interstate traffic traveling near downtown Louisville. Exposed brick and a newly-constructed wood beam ceiling greet visitors as they walk into the distillation room, where there’s space to install additional fermenting tanks as the company grows. The distillery is also designed to make a unique and attractive experience for public tours.
Bardstown Bourbon Company — This distillery, which opened in 2016, offers wholesale customers the opportunity to create custom, authentic, Kentucky whiskey products and also provides comprehensive barrel financing. The program promises to expand the explosive growth of the craft distilling industry by providing craft distillers and brand owners with high-quality whiskey to strengthen their supply. The distillery is designed to easily expand as production grows and is already expanding with a second still and additional fermenters.
The building incorporates modern design traditional bourbon materials. Visitors will notice each phase of bourbon production is fully transparent and visible. The center of the building is a 55’-tall still tower clad in limestone panels, natural wood and glass. Each wing of the building radiates out into the landscape from the still tower embracing the rural Kentucky landscape. Visitors will notice the bourbon-making process was laid out with them in mind, offering a unique visitor experience in this groundbreaking Bourbon Industrial Tourism Experience.
Four Roses Bourbon — Joseph & Joseph Architects’ association with the Four Roses Distillery began with the design of the main production building in 1909. The unique Spanishthemed design motifs of this first structure influenced the architectural theme of the campus from then on. Recent planning studies identified the ever-growing interest in Four Roses bourbon and the need for improved and expanded facilities to cater to guests.
This new 14,000 SF Visitor Center allows Four Roses better opportunities to showcase their brand while offering visitors a more immersive experience into the bourbon-making process. Designed to evoke a grand manor house, the new visitor center welcomes guests into a fresh, contemporary entry hall with heavy timber trusses and exposed wood roof deck. Guests begin tours in the orientation parlor before returning to four large tasting rooms and the retail space. Staff offices, restrooms, storage and an interactive archive display area further support the visitor experience.
After the tour, guests can relax in the intimate bar which opens on to a large covered outdoor space that overlooks the rural Kentucky landscape. Afterhours, the building is designed to be flexible to host large private gatherings – from corporate and special events to wedding celebrations – and will serve as a unique venue that honors the century-long history of Four Roses bourbon.
Fred B. Noe Distillery — Joseph & Joseph Architects was selected by Beam Suntory to provide architectural design and construction administration for the new distillery. The project will serve as home for the new University of Kentucky James B. Beam Institute in Clermont, Kentucky. The project includes grain handling, cookers, fermenters, still towers and barrel fill room. The central area of the building will house a large consumer space and the classroom. The building will house the production of Jim Beam’s premium bourbons, as well as new experimental expressions. The distillery process design was based on a scaled down model of the original Clermont distillery.
Green River Tasting Room — The new Green River Tasting Room at 714 W Main Street in Louisville, KY, stands as an architectural celebration of the brand’s 140-year heritage. The 4,400-square-foot space is located on historic Whiskey Row and blends industrial authenticity with modern hospitality. At the heart of the tasting room is a distinctive horseshoe-shaped bar that nods to the shape of Green River’s iconic bottles. This central feature anchors a warm, communal layout that encourages social interaction and flow between thoughtfully zoned spaces.
The interior is a layered mix of reclaimed materials and curated artifacts that convey the brand’s Owensboro, KY roots. Exposed brick walls, vintage warehouse lighting, and copper distilling equipment are complemented by historical relics such as old photographs, blueprints, and advertisements, creating an immersive environment that honors the distillery’s 1885 origins. A key architectural strategy includes spatial zoning: the venue is divided into a bottle shop, cocktail bar, performance lounge, and an interactive gaming area featuring “Shoot the Shoe.” A hidden speakeasy—accessed via a secret entrance—adds an element of surprise and exclusivity, offering plush seating and private barrel-strength tasting experiences under the playful moniker “Department of Spirit Preservation.” While rooted in industrial materials and bourbon heritage, the space is adaptive and modern, supporting live music, community events, and educational programming. Interactive elements like the fill-your-own-jug experience and brand-themed games reinforce guest engagement and brand identity. By seamlessly blending past and present, the Green River Tasting Room offers not only a compelling architectural experience but also a dynamic social destination that revitalizes Whiskey Row with spirit, culture, and a sense of place.
Heaven Hill Springs Distillery — Following a devastating fire in 1996 that consumed seven rickhouses and the distillery, Heaven Hill Distillery moved production to Louisville. With the construction of this new state-of-the-art bourbon distillery, Heaven Hill returns to its roots in Bardstown, Kentucky once again. The building and its support structures have been designed to initially produce 10 million proof gallons per year, with planned additions that will eventually allow the production of 30 million.
The new distillery is designed to accommodate visitors and tour groups who will be able to interact with the process from start to finish. On the tour, special attention will be focused on yeast production, fermentation and distillation, where 62’ tall column stills provide a commanding presence as visitors arrive on the new campus. Additional visitor services will include a retail shop, tasting rooms, a bar and a large multi-purpose event space.
Kentucky Peerless Distilling — In this 42,800 sq. ft. artisan distillery located in a restored 1912 tobacco warehouse, visitors can see where corn, barley and rye are delivered, milled, fermented and then processed through the custom-designed 26-ft. column still, barreled and eventually bottled. Founder Corky Taylor and his son Carson are
Fourth- and fifth-generation descendants of Peerless’ founder Henry Kraver, where they combine history and technology to bring back this esteemed brand. They have room onsite for up to 1,800 53 gallon barrels.
Lux Row Distillers — In May 2016 Luxco’s Chairman & CEO Donn Lux and President & COO David Bratcher broke ground on Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky. The 70 acre property includes several barns, an 18th-century National Historic Place stone house and now an 18,000-square-foot distillery with barrel warehouses, a visitor center, tasting room and event space.
Michter’s Distillery & Tour Center — Michter’s has two distilleries. They restored a 20,000 sq. ft. 4-story historic building on Louisville’s Historic Whiskey Row, which is home to their urban bourbon distillery. This project includes extensive structural modifications to allow for a fully functioning distillery. Included in the design are two replica 18th century pot stills, fermenting tank, barrel filling, a tour mezzanine through the distillery, barrel storage area, bottling line, gift shops and tasting area.
The tour experience winds throughout the distillery, educating the visitor about each step, from grain handling through barrel storage and bottling. Throughout the facility there are interactive exhibits that allow visitors to learn about each step of the bourbon distillation.
Joseph & Joseph also designed Michter’s 65,000-sq.-ft. production facility in Shively, Kentucky.
Old Forester Distillery — More than 150 years ago, Louisville’s “Whiskey Row” was home to many distilleries and warehouse operations. With the Old Forester Distillery project, Brown-Forman Corporation returns home to a new interactive visitor experience and working distillery in the heart of downtown. Through close collaboration with the New York office of experiential designer Imagination, Joseph & Joseph + Bravura Architects has reclaimed the historic façade as a backdrop to an intervention that is sensitive to the scale and character of the surrounding neighborhood.
The tour will expose visitors to the bourbon crafting process from start to finish. Guests will engage orientation spaces, fermentation tanks, a barrel aging warehouse and bottling line. Tasting rooms will allow visitors to sample the results as they toast the authentic spirit of the longest, continuously distilled bourbon.
The Last Refuge — Joseph & Joseph was selected by Weyland Ventures and Heaven’s Door Whiskey to provide architectural design services for the new Brand Experience in the Nulu neighborhood of Louisville, KY. The Last Refuge resides within a historic church originally built in 1880 as the former Refuge of Kentucky Church. The project serves as the 20,000-square foot centerpiece of Heaven’s Door, the bourbon brand of iconic singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The site includes a restaurant, multiple bars, an event space and private patio for patrons to enjoy Kentucky’s native spirit.
The Trail Hotel — The Trail Hotel is Bardstown’s premier destination for bourbon enthusiasts and travelers seeking a luxurious experience in the heart of Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. This 95-room boutique hotel blends modern luxury with the rich traditions of Bardstown, the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The hotel occupies the site of the former Holiday Inn Bardstown, a beloved historic property that opened in 1970. The property has undergone a $27 million renovation, preserving its historic charm while incorporating modern amenities and design elements to cater to contemporary travelers. The Trail Hotel offers a unique, bourbon-infused experience with eight themed suites that celebrate Kentucky’s iconic spirit. Guests can indulge in a variety of dining options, including the upscale Oak & Ember steakhouse, the Bourbon Vault speakeasy, and the Bourbon Lounge, each offering curated menus and an extensive selection of spirits. For relaxation and entertainment, the hotel features a seasonal outdoor pool, the Par & Pour golf simulator lounge, and Bourbon Alley, an open-air lounge area with fire pits and Adirondack chairs.
Whiskey House of Kentucky — Located on a 176-acre campus in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Whiskey House is building the most flexible, sophisticated, technically advanced whiskey distillery in the U.S. Whiskey House was founded in 2022 by the same team that created The Bardstown Bourbon Company. Its founders said it’s the first distillery “designed from the ground up to focus solely on large-scale, flexible, contract whiskey production.” With no brands of its own, Whiskey House provides Custom Whiskey Production customers with visibility into the manufacturing and barrel aging process.
