Cave City is toasting a new era of Kentucky spirits. On December 12, Cave City will host a ribbon-cutting celebration welcoming Dueling Grounds Distillery and MB Roland Distillery to downtown, marking a new milestone in the city’s growing craft spirits scene. 

The event will feature local officials, tastings, and exclusive bottle releases, marking the beginning of a new era of tourism and community pride ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 launch of Cave City Distilling Company.

“This new distillery and the tasting rooms will help bring new jobs, new tourism opportunities and more visitors from around the world to our New Kentucky Home and the Cave City community,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news release.

Cave City serves as the welcoming front door of Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world’s longest cave system and UNESCO World Heritage site. The park welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. For generations, Cave City has served as the welcoming front door to this global landmark, where small businesses and craftspeople showcase the region’s authentic culture. 

Now, with the addition of these new tasting rooms and the forthcoming Cave City Distilling Company, the community is set to complement its world-famous caves with world-class bourbon and hospitality.

“When we work together, we can do great things for our people” Beshear said. “I am grateful to all the leaders who helped bring this vision to life and I am looking forward to visiting one day soon.” 

These developments mark a significant milestone for the city’s downtown revitalization and reinforce Cave City’s growing reputation as one of Kentucky’s top tourism destinations. The openings bring together local entrepreneurs, veteran distillers, and civic leaders in a shared effort to celebrate Kentucky’s rich distilling heritage, creating more than 20 skilled jobs in distilling and hospitality, while driving tourism and long-term economic growth. 

Dwayne Hatcher, mayor of Cave City, shared the city’s excitement, noting, “We are proud to welcome these two strong distilling enterprises to downtown Cave City and to look forward to the full-scale launch of Cave City Distilling Company in 2026. Their commitment to innovation, local jobs, and community partnership will help make Cave City a premier destination for bourbon and spirits enthusiasts from around the world.” 

For the distillers themselves, the milestone represents years of passion, patience, and place-based pride. 

“At Dueling Grounds Distillery, this opening is the culmination of years of creativity, hard work and partnership with our Western Kentucky distillery community,” said Marc Dottore, founder of Dueling Grounds. “Bringing three craft distilleries together to create a bourbon destination is unprecedented in this part of the state. We’re honored to share our craft and our story with Cave City visitors.”

At MB Roland, the expansion brings the distillery’s signature “grain-to-glass” craftsmanship into the heart of a tourism corridor. 

“For MB Roland Distillery, this creates the opportunity to showcase our handcrafted, Pre-Prohibition style of spirits and Western Kentucky craft distilling to a new and appreciative audience,” Paul Tomaszewski said. “In conjunction with Dueling Grounds Distillery and Cave City Distilling Company, we are excited to bring bourbon tourism to such a beautiful area that has a wealth of character and charm.”

“[The] commitment to innovation, local jobs, and community partnership will help make Cave City a premier destination for bourbon and spirits enthusiasts from around the world.”
-Dwayne Hatcher, mayor of Cave City

Looking ahead, Luke Jean, founder of Cave City Distilling Company, views the 2026 launch as both an investment in the city and a tribute to Kentucky tradition. 

“Cave City Distilling Company is ready to take our next big step, bringing full-scale production and a tasting experience to life in 2026,” Jean said. “We’re proud to carry forward the legacy of Mammoth Cave Bourbon Whiskey  while helping shape the future of this community.”

Eric Gregory, President of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) said, “As we welcome millions of visitors from around the world to experience Kentucky Bourbon, they’re also discovering the breathtaking beauty of the Commonwealth. Pairing a globally enjoyed spirit with a globally traveled destination showcases the bold innovation that is shaping the future of our industry.” 

Cave City invites the community to join local officials and distillery leaders for the ribbon-cutting and celebration of craft spirits in Barren County. RSVP is encouraged and can be submitted to any of the distillery contacts. 

Grand Opening Details — December 12, 2025  

• Location: Downtown Cave City, Kentucky
• Events: Ribbon-cuttings, tastings, local food vendors, and exclusive bottle releases
• Guests: Local officials, KDA representatives, and distillery founders
• Time: 12 p.m. CST

Read more: Pre-order Fred Minnick’s New Book, ‘Bottom Shelf’

About the Distilleries

Dueling Grounds Distillery

Founded in Franklin, Kentucky, Dueling Grounds Distillery draws its name and spirit from the historic Linkumpinch Dueling Grounds, where honor was once settled at twenty paces. The distillery embodies local heritage through meticulous grain-to-glass craftsmanship, utilizing locally grown corn, wheat, and barley, along with pure Kentucky water. Each small batch bourbon celebrates the rich history and community roots of southern Kentucky. Learn more at duelinggroundsdistillery.com.

MB Roland Distillery

Founded in 2009 by Paul and Merry Beth Tomaszewski on a former Amish dairy farm near Pembroke, Kentucky, MB Roland stands as one of the pioneering leaders of the Kentucky craft spirits movement. Built on a commitment to authenticity, the distillery produces true “grain-to-glass” bourbons and whiskeys using locally grown white corn, traditional wood-fired cooperage, and hands-on pre-Prohibition techniques. What began with a single 100-gallon still has grown into one of Kentucky’s most respected craft distilleries, celebrated for its bold, uncut, and unfiltered spirits that showcase the heritage and innovation driving Kentucky’s new generation of distillers. Learn more at mbroland.com. 

Cave City Distilling Company (formerly Balance Distilling Company)

Cave City Distilling Company is an award-winning family farm distillery located in Cave City, KY.  The operation started in Smiths Grove, Kentucky, in 2020 and is proudly veteran-owned and operated. Cave City Distilling Company distills moonshine, gin, whiskey, and one of the only rums made 100% in Kentucky. They are the producers of the legacy brand Mammoth Cave Bourbon Whiskey, which dates back to 1869. The distillery’s new location is set to open for tours, tasting, and full-scale production in 2026. Learn more at balancedistilling.com.