(WKYT) – A bourbon distillery with ties to U.S. Special Forces soldiers who fought in Afghanistan days after the Sept. 11 attacks held its grand opening Wednesday in Somerset.
Horse Soldier Farms is now home to Horse Soldier Bourbon, a 100,000-square-foot facility expected to bring as many as 50 jobs to the area and have a $100 million economic impact on the Lake Cumberland region.
The distillery and its flagship bottle
The distillery is releasing a 1776 Liberty bottle — a 13-year-old bourbon with glass sourced from France.
“So a lot of emotions in this bottle, and we are happy to have it in our facility,” said Scott Neil, president of Horse Soldier Bourbon.
Neil is a former Green Beret and one of the first U.S. Special Forces soldiers to enter Afghanistan. He said the Kentucky location was a natural fit for the brand.
“It’s everything,” Neil said. “So when you think about the name — horse and soldier and bourbon — they all exist here in Kentucky, and so do we.”
Neil said the venture represents a new chapter.
“I served my country, but I also loved the fact that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — I now get to live and be a part of the American dream I’ve been defending,” Neil said.
From Afghanistan to Kentucky
Mark Nutsch, also part of Horse Soldier Bourbon, led Green Berets in Afghanistan on horseback 25 years ago — an immediate response to the Sept. 11 attacks through rough terrain. A 2018 film called 12 Strong depicted Nutsch and his team.
“Very proud of what we accomplished 25 years ago and what we’ve gone on to do,” Nutsch said.
Nutsch said bourbon was part of the experience while deployed.
“We may have shared some bourbon in Afghanistan — or some other spirits — with our partners who were part of that historic mission,” Nutsch said.
Now, Nutsch and members of Horse Soldier Bourbon travel the country to share their story.
“And inspire people to live legendary — and they can overcome challenges in their life and get on to accomplish their dreams and objectives,” Nutsch said.
The Green Beret team trained near the Kentucky-Tennessee border in the days before the Sept. 11 attacks. Horse Soldier Bourbon is available in all 50 states.