Horse Soldier Farms Has Arrived: What the Grand Opening Means for Somerset
Horse Soldier Farms has officially opened in Somerset, Kentucky, marking the debut of the brand’s $200 million bourbon tourism campus on the shores of Lake Cumberland. The grand opening took place over Independence Day weekend, drawing thousands of visitors, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and a wave of new attention to Pulaski County. This guide covers what’s now open, how The Urban Stillhouse Somerset fits into the bigger picture, and why Somerset just earned a spot on the bourbon map.
Inside the $200 Million Distillery Now Open on Lake Cumberland
Horse Soldier Farms spans 240 acres overlooking Lake Cumberland and includes the American Freedom Distillery, a 50,000 square foot production facility, along with The Outpost retail store and a full schedule of guided tours. The grand opening weekend ran over the Fourth of July, complete with a ribbon cutting alongside Governor Andy Beshear and live performances from country artists.
Founders John Koko, Scott Neil, and Elizabeth Pritchard-Koko built the campus on the site of the former Waitsboro Hills Golf Course, turning 240 acres above the lake into a full production and hospitality destination. The American Freedom Distillery Horse Soldier Bourbon team designed guided tours that walk visitors from grain to glass, ending with a tasting straight from the source. Anyone searching for the Horse Soldier Bourbon distillery in person now has an actual address to visit instead of a groundbreaking photo.
The property joins a short list of destination distillery restaurants in Kentucky built for tourists as much as for production, and it does so with a founding story that predates the building by more than two decades. Fans of American Freedom Distillery whiskey now have a working production site to tour rather than just a bottle on a shelf, and Horse Soldier Bourbon Somerset KY has quickly become the search phrase locals use to find it. Governor Beshear’s office and Somerset’s own leadership treated the opening as a milestone for the entire region, not just for the brand:
- A 240-acre campus home to the American Freedom Distillery and The Outpost retail store
- Guided tours take visitors from grain to glass, ending in tastings of Horse Soldier Bourbon
- Grand opening weekend featured a ribbon cutting with Governor Andy Beshear and live country music
Somerset has talked about a distillery on this site for years. As of this summer, it’s open for visitors.
How The Urban Stillhouse Somerset Completes the Horse Soldier Experience
The Urban Stillhouse Somerset Kentucky location has operated downtown since 2024, giving Horse Soldier Bourbon fans a dining and bourbon library experience years before the distillery opened. Now that Horse Soldier Farms has arrived, Somerset offers both ends of the story: a working distillery on Lake Cumberland and a restaurant downtown built around the same founding narrative.
Commander’s Club members at the Somerset Urban Stillhouse location already had first access to barrel picks and farm experiences written into their membership before the distillery opened its doors, and that perk now has an actual property attached to it rather than a future promise. A visit that once meant dinner and a bourbon flight downtown can now stretch into a full day trip, tour and tasting at the distillery followed by dinner back at the restaurant.
Among distillery restaurants tied to a working production site, few in the region can offer both a sit-down dinner and a Commander’s Club Private Dining Space the way Somerset now can. Restaurants near Somerset KY searching for a reason to draw destination travelers now have one built right into the itinerary.
A distillery without a place to sit down afterward is only half an experience. Somerset now has both halves within a short drive of each other.
| Feature | Horse Soldier Farms Distillery | The Urban Stillhouse Somerset |
| Location | Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County | Downtown Somerset |
| Opened | July 2026 | 2023 |
| Experience | Guided tours, tastings, retail store | Full-service dining, bourbon library |
| Membership Perk | First access to barrel picks and farm experiences | Private Dining Space, Commander Club Exclusive Events & More |
| Best For | Daytime tours and tastings | Dinner, celebrations, and events |
Why Somerset Just Became Kentucky’s Newest Bourbon Trail Stop
Horse Soldier Farms adds Pulaski County to the map of destinations tied to Kentucky’s bourbon tourism industry, giving Somerset a reason to draw visitors well beyond Lake Cumberland’s usual boating and fishing crowd. Local and state leaders, including Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, have pointed to the project as a turning point for the area’s tourism economy.
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association has welcomed Horse Soldier Bourbon into its ranks, a signal that the brand is now viewed alongside the state’s established bourbon trail restaurants and production names rather than as a newcomer trying to break in. Pairing lake recreation with a bourbon destination gives Somerset something most lake towns in the region don’t have.
Local officials expect the distillery to support restaurants, hotels, and other small businesses across Pulaski County as visitor traffic grows. Searches for restaurants Somerset KY and Somerset KY restaurants have already started climbing alongside interest in the distillery, and new restaurants in Somerset KY stand to benefit from tourists extending a lake trip into an overnight bourbon getaway.
Anyone hunting for the best restaurants Somerset KY, restaurants in downtown Somerset KY, or the top rated restaurants Somerset KY lists will likely see this stretch of town mentioned more often going forward.
Lake Cumberland has drawn visitors for decades. Bourbon just gave them a second reason to stay the weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Horse Soldier Farms?
Horse Soldier Farms is a 240-acre distillery and tourism campus in Somerset, Kentucky, built by the founders of Horse Soldier Bourbon. The property is home to the American Freedom Distillery, a 50,000 square foot production facility, along with The Outpost retail store and a schedule of guided tours and tastings. It represents a $200 million investment and gives Horse Soldier Bourbon a physical home in Kentucky bourbon country for the first time.
When did Horse Soldier Farms open?
The grand opening took place over Independence Day weekend in 2026, with the first public event welcoming thousands of visitors on July 3. Governor Andy Beshear joined local officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony as part of the celebration, and the weekend also featured live performances from country artists and a fireworks finale tied to the nation’s 250th birthday. The distillery is now open to the public year-round for tours and tastings.
How much did the Horse Soldier Farms distillery cost?
Horse Soldier Farms represents roughly a $200 million investment in Somerset and Pulaski County, according to state and company announcements made around the grand opening. The project transformed the former Waitsboro Hills Golf Course into a 240-acre campus overlooking Lake Cumberland. Local leaders expect the investment to generate new jobs and tourism dollars for the surrounding community for years to come.
Can I visit both the distillery and The Urban Stillhouse Somerset in one trip?
Yes, the two properties sit close enough together that a day trip can include a tour and tasting at Horse Soldier Farms with a lunch, brunch or dinner experience at The Urban Stillhouse Somerset downtown. Commander’s Club members get added perks at both properties as the brand’s Kentucky presence continues to grow. Booking dining experiences ahead through OpenTable is a good idea if the visit falls on a weekend during peak tourist season.
Is Horse Soldier Farms part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association has welcomed Horse Soldier Bourbon as part of the state’s broader bourbon tourism community following the grand opening. That recognition places Horse Soldier Farms alongside other established stops that draw visitors from across the country to Kentucky each year. For Somerset, it means the town now has a legitimate claim to a spot on bourbon tourists’ itineraries rather than just a detour off the main trail.