After 18 years of building one of Kentucky’s first craft distilleries by hand, the owners of MB Roland Distillery are retiring and have brought the business to market, together with the real estate it sits on.

The offering includes the operating business and the full 26-acre property: the 10-acre distillery campus and adjoining 16-acre undeveloped land.

The distillery has operated since 2009, was founded by Paul and Merry Beth Tomaszewski, and is a member of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and the Stateline Whiskey Tour.

“For 18 years, MB Roland Distillery has been proud to be one of Kentucky’s pioneering craft distilleries, helping shape the state’s craft distilling movement,” Paul Tomaszewski, Co-founder, MB Roland Distillery, said in a news release.

“We’ve worked alongside fellow distillers and industry leaders to advance legislation and build a stronger future for Kentucky’s distilling industry.  We’re proud of what we’ve built and look forward to finding the right new owner to take MB Roland to the next level and ensure its legacy continues for generations to come.” 

What is being offered

• Turnkey operation: a working distillery with a primary tasting room and a secondary tasting room in Cave City, KY, a trained team, and an established Harvest Host location.
• Brand portfolio: MB Roland, Dark Fired, Barker’s Mill, Old 2nd District, Kentucky Pink Lemonade, St. Elmo’s Fire, and numerous others along with the recipes behind them.
• Distribution: relationships with nine distributors across 17 markets, the option to self-distribute in Kentucky, and online sales reaching 45 states.
• Aging inventory: a barrel program with a history of use across multiple blends and of selling at a premium.
• Transition support: the owners are willing to assist with the transfer of operations for up to six months.

A site built for visitors

The campus sits just off I-24 at Exit 89 in Christian County and is marked by official brown Kentucky Bourbon Trail interstate signs owned by MB Roland. Bourbon travelers watch for those signs, and the signs are a draw that billboards do not match. A Buc-ee’s travel center has been announced within one mile of the distillery campus and is expected to add highway traffic to the area.

The property has no restrictive zoning and has utility improvements in place, which leaves room for expansion. Buyers could continue the distillery, build a hospitality or agritourism venue, or return part of the acreage to farm or other commercial use. A state tourism grant of more than $500,000 is also available for up to two years, subject to the program’s terms.

How the sale will work

The business and real estate will be offered together via online auction on December 7^th – 14^th, with Bolinger Real Estate & Auction conducting the sale. Qualified buyers who sign a non-disclosure agreement will receive a full information package, including financial and production details, and may schedule a confidential on-site tour. Information about the sale can be found at: 

https://bid.bolingerrealestate.com/auctions/25040-distillery-business-and-real-estate-auction

Time and Tasks LLC is serving as business consultant to the MB Roland team on the transaction. Inquiries should be directed to Bolinger Real Estate & Auction.

Read more: Liberty Pole, MB Roland Collaborate on Special Releases

About MB Roland Distillery

MB Roland Distillery is a grain-to-glass craft distillery at 6534 Pembroke Oak Grove Rd, Pembroke, Ky., founded in 2009. It has been a longtime member of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and the Stateline Whiskey Tour. For more information, visit MB Roland Distillery | Resurrecting History, One Barrel at a Time.