Two injured when 120,000 gallon mash tank collapses at Barton 1792 Distillery

NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT

Tuesday, March 5, 2019 — Two people were injured Tuesday morning after a mash tank at the Barton 1792 Distillery collapsed, spilling 120,000 gallons of mash.

According to Nelson County Emergency Management, Nelson County Dispatch received a 911 call at about 11:51 Tuesday morning.

The Bardstown Fire Department and Nelson County EMS responded to the distillery after dispatchers reported a mash tank had failed and an employee was injured. First-responders determined that two additional tanks were damaged in the tank collapse.

The mash flowed into an on-site basin but once that was filled, it overflowed and the material threatened a nearby stream. Louisville media report that Some of the mash is reported to have spilled into the Beech Fork River south of the distillery property.

A hazardous material clean-up crew contracted by Barton 1792 was on the scene by Tuesday afternoon, and the company was bringing addition resources to the site.

Two people were injured at the distillery and both were transported to Flaget Memorial Hospital by EMS with what were described as non life-threatening injuries. Both were treated and released.

The facility is owned by Sazerac.

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