An Owensboro distillery plans to open a tasting room with a nod to the late movie star, John Wayne.
OZ Tyler and Duke Spirits plan to open the Duke Tasting Room and John Wayne Experience at the distillery in April.
During a preview event Wednesday, OZ Tyler CEO Simon Burch said the distillery and Duke are boosting an existing partnership…
"We've had that relationship with the Duke brand on the supply side. Today, we're officially announcing we're taking that relationship to the next level. And the O.Z. Tyler Distillery will become officially the Duke brand home"
Burch says the growth will likely lead to more jobs.
"We are looking at significantly expanding the bottling line operation. We have one bottling line today. We're looking at certainly three -- and more -- because we need to bottle brands like Duke."
Chris Radomski is Founder and CEO of Duke Spirits. He says he met John Wayne’s youngest son 12 years ago…
"And he shared with me his dad's love of bourbon and the bourbon project he had been working on in the early ‘60’s."
Radomski his company chose OZ Tyler to bottle the bourbon.
"And we were looking for the proper home that I think really reflected the integrity and the heritage of John Wayne and I thought there's no better place than O.Z. Plus you know, it was really the people as well from the management all the way down to everybody who works in the facility. They're wonderful people."
The preview event in the Duke Tasting Room included a performance by the musical group Runaway June, featuring Jennifer Wayne, granddaughter of the Duke.
