Tom Collins Distilling has purchased the former Garrard County Distilling property for $20 million, per media reports.

Located in Lancaster, Kentucky, the distillery had gone into receivership. Tom Collins, the sole bidder, won the right to purchase the property for $20 million, according to The Spirits Business and other outlets.

Tom Collins is affiliated with Buffalo Trace Distillery owner Sazerac, which released this statement: “Sazerac Company was the successful bidder in the auction process for Garrard County Distilling. The transaction remains subject to customary closing processes. At this time, we don’t have additional information to share. We will provide more information if and when appropriate.” 

Tom Collins had reportedly been the primary creditor to Garrard County Distilling, which launched in 2024 and went into receivership in April 2025. The Spirits Business reported that Truist Bank then filed a lawsuit against the distillery for a debt totalling approximately $26 million. This reportedly included unpaid property taxes, loans and liens. 

Michael Gaffney, mayor of Lancaster, told Lex News, “I feel pretty confident it will be a successful venture, just seeing what they’ve done in the past and their history. I think it’s really, really important for us to get that thing [distillery] back up and going.” 

The distillery operation was one of the largest independent distilleries in Kentucky when it launched – it features two 45-foot by 36-inch column stills with a capacity of as many as 150,000 barrels a year, founder Ray Franklin said in 2024. The distillery spans 50,000 square feet with 18 fermenters and three rickhouses. 

The project was initially launched by Atlanta-based Staghorn.

“Staghorn’s vision for Garrard County Distilling Co. is to craft the finest whiskeys and spirits in the world at scale to make an immediate impact in the market,” Staghorn Founder and President Ray Franklin, a 25-year industry veteran, said at the time. “To support this goal, we will be hiring nothing but the best in the business, respecting long-honored traditions and craftmanship to assure our products are nothing short of remarkable.” 

Read more: Garrard County Distilling Closes, Faces $2.2 Million Lawsuit