CAVE CITY, Ky. — A new distillery and tourism attraction will officially open its doors in Cave City next month.

Cave City Distilling Company will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening July 3 at its facility at 110 Chapatcha Drive. The event begins at 11 a.m., with doors opening at 10:30 a.m.

The family-owned, veteran-owned business is operated by Luke and Creste Jean and Wade and Chasidy Terry. The company began as Balance Distilling Company in Smiths Grove before relocating and expanding operations in Cave City.

Located near Mammoth Cave National Park, the distillery offers tours, tastings and a range of Kentucky-made spirits, including bourbon, rum, gin and moonshine.

The business has already received national recognition.

At the 2026 American Craft Spirits Association Awards, Mammoth Cave Bourbon Whiskey and Mammoth Cave Rum earned silver medals, while Mammoth Cave Gin and Mammoth Cave Caramel Moonshine received bronze medals.

“Our goal has always been to create more than just a distillery,” co-owner and distiller Luke Jean said in a news release. “We wanted to create a place where people feel welcome the moment they arrive.”

Jean said the company adopted the slogan “Cave City’s Front Porch” to reflect its goal of creating a gathering place for residents and visitors.

Owners said they intentionally relied on local contractors, craftsmen and tradespeople during construction of the facility.

“From the beginning, we wanted this project to be built by locals,” co-owner Wade Terry said. “This community supported us throughout our journey, and it was important to us that local businesses and tradesmen played a significant role in bringing this vision to life.”

In the coming months, the company plans to expand its agritourism offerings by adding cattle, horses and other farm animals to the property.

Cave City Mayor Dwayne Hatcher said the distillery will add to the city's tourism economy.

“Cave City Distilling Company is a tremendous addition to our community and tourism economy,” Hatcher said. “The owners have created a destination that celebrates Kentucky heritage, supports local businesses and provides visitors with another reason to choose Cave City.”

The July 3 grand opening is open to the public and will include complimentary distillery tours, spirit tastings and light refreshments. The celebration will continue July 4 with additional tours and tastings.

According to the company, the distillery traces its roots to operations that began in Smiths Grove in 2020 and produces the Mammoth Cave Bourbon Whiskey brand, which dates back to 1869.