SOMERSET, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of Horse Soldier Farms, a $200 million bourbon distillery and tourism complex built by a veteran-owned company founded by former Green Berets who were among the first U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The facility, which opens this week, features a 50,000-square-foot visitor center and retail space overlooking Lake Cumberland on the grounds of the former Waitsboro Hills Golf Course. The project is expected to bring 50 new jobs to Pulaski County and generate roughly $100 million in economic impact for the Lake Cumberland region. Somerset's tourism attractions currently welcome millions of visitors annually, generating more than $152 million in economic impact.

"Bourbon is essential to Kentucky's success, creating high-quality jobs and helping drive our record-breaking tourism industry across our state," Beshear said at the celebration. The governor noted that 2025 was Kentucky's fourth consecutive record-breaking year for tourism, with $14.6 billion in economic impact supporting nearly 97,000 jobs.

Horse Soldier Bourbon was founded by former Special Forces soldiers who were dispatched to Afghanistan days after 9/11, where they famously fought on horseback in operations that became the basis for the 2018 film "12 Strong." The company, officially established in 2015, handcrafts its bourbon using all-natural ingredients, with each bottle molded by steel salvaged from the World Trade Center. The bourbon earned double gold honors three times at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

John Koko, president and CEO, said the Somerset location felt like a homecoming. "Our journey began in Kentucky at Fort Campbell. Twenty-five years after 9/11, we've returned to build something we hope will endure for generations," he said at Wednesday's celebration. The company previously operated a distillery in Columbus, Ohio.

The 227-acre property includes design elements honoring the company's heritage, with 12 fermentation vats arranged around the still in tribute to the original 12 Green Berets, and architectural references to the Twin Towers and Ground Zero's America's Response Monument. The complex also features a luxury lodge, cabins, restaurant and event spaces.

Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, who led recruitment efforts after hearing about the company's story, praised the partnership. "One of the most special moments in my time as mayor will always be sitting across the table from John and Elizabeth Koko in New York City as they shared that their team had chosen Somerset," he said.

The opening comes as Kentucky's bourbon and spirits industry continues to expand. Since Beshear took office, the state has announced more than 118 bourbon-related investments totaling $5.4 billion and creating over 2,100 jobs. The state's spirits facilities currently employ more than 5,100 people across approximately 70 locations.