Heaven Hill Distillery was founded in 1935 in Bardstown, Kentucky, by the Shapira family and a group of investors just two years after the end of Prohibition. Initially called “Old Heaven Hill Springs,” it quickly became known for producing quality bourbon at scale, including legacy brands like Evan Williams and J.W. Dant. The distillery grew into one of the largest independent, family-owned spirits producers in the U.S. A major fire in 1996 destroyed the original distillery, but production was soon moved to the nearby Bernheim facility in Louisville, while aging and bottling remained in Bardstown. Today, Heaven Hill owns a wide portfolio of brands—such as Elijah Craig, Larceny, Henry McKenna, and Rittenhouse Rye—and is recognized for its commitment to bottled-in-bond and traditional whiskey-making methods.