ABOUT THIS PROJECT
The Saga Spirits Distillery Master Plan was developed to honor tradition while embracing innovation, ensuring the campus reflects generations of craftsmanship while setting the stage for future growth. Rooted in Kentucky’s bourbon heritage, the Henderson family sought to create a brand that celebrates this legacy and its deep ties to place. Luckett & Farley’s multidisciplinary team created a strategic roadmap that integrates sustainable design, thoughtful site planning, and immersive storytelling, resulting in a seamless convergence of nature, architecture, and the art of distillation.
The Master Plan is structured into five key sections, each addressing critical aspects of the project:
- Visioning Session: The Planning Team collaborated with branding and marketing consultants to establish a design direction that emphasized nature, art, and Kentucky’s landscape, creating a sense of awe while shaping the distillery’s identity and visitor experience. developing a structural framework that enhanced the visitor experience while honoring the distillation process
- Site Analysis: The location presented unique challenges, bordered by industrial, commercial, and agricultural landscapes, while also being in proximity to other distilleries and a secondary site, the Kentucky Castle. The analysis informed key design decisions by evaluating topography, drainage, viewsheds, and zoning, ensuring the site aligned with the brand vision while creating a cohesive and immersive experience.
- Final Site Concept: This phase defined the optimal layout, integrating campus planning, circulation, security, and utilities while balancing visitor experience, production efficiency, and safety. The design also accommodated tax incentive requirements, ensuring financial viability while maintaining a seamless brand experience.
- Final Architectural Concept: This phase provided a more detailed framework, addressing specific program requirements for tourism, hoteling spaces, entertainment areas, and eco-tourism, while also ensuring the distillery functioned as a fully operational facility. It included conceptual floor plans, design narratives, and recommendations for mechanical, electrical, and fire suppression systems, merging production and hospitality into a cohesive architectural vision.
- Budgets and Phasing: This section outlined preliminary cost estimates and implementation planning, ensuring that tax incentives, infrastructure, and phased construction aligned with financial and operational goals.
Distilleries are highly complex facilities requiring multidisciplinary expertise to integrate operations, visitor experience, and branding. This was especially true for Saga Spirits, where complex programmatic requirements and phased development demanded a strategic, flexible approach. Luckett & Farley’s, in-house team, with deep industry knowledge in the distilled spirits sector, played a critical role in shaping a cohesive and strategic vision. While different disciplines contributed at various phases, our process is most effective because we can organically collaborate at any stage, allowing for open-ended solutions that lead to better outcomes.
