Bringing the pieces together: BHAWKS Distillery campus adds newest piece of machinery to facility

By Faith Hatton, posted Dec 14, 2023 on BizFayetteville.com

The latest addition to the BHAWKS Distillery campus was a 34 foot long custom copper column whiskey still which will be used to produce their Sergeant’s Valor Estate Bourbon - Photo by GFBJ

Southern Pines will soon be welcoming a new distillery campus into the area’s vibrant bar scene after the newest equipment addition to the Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko. (BHAWK) facility was completed on Friday, Nov. 17.
Army Veterans and Owners of BHAWK Brad and Jessica Halling joined with members of their BHAWK membership organization Club 62 and members of the community to witness the installation of a custom copper column whiskey still to their distillery campus.
Measuring 12 inches in diameter and 34 feet long, this still will be used to produce BHAWK’s first barrels of Sergeant’s Valor Estate Bourbon.

“I was thinking it’s like seeing my first child being born, watching them lift that still up,” joked BHAWK CEO and Co-Founder Brad Halling. “It’s actually the workhorse, it’s the heart of the facility. This is essentially what’s going to strip alcohol from the mash that we cook and turn it into barrels of good bourbon whiskey.”
The equipment was custom made by Vendome Copper & Brass Works Inc. in Louisville, KY. The equipment was shipped in and lowered into the distillery via crane through an open roof hatch for installation. “The Sergeant’s Valor Bourbon is a mash bill that’s very similar to what you might find with an Old Forester. The recipe is somewhat common amongst bourbons but it’s 72 percent corn, it’s going to be 18 percent rye and malted barley,” shared Brad. According to BHAWK Co-Founder Jessica Halling, the company works with distilleries to produce equipment responsible for some of the best bourbons in the country.
This installation took place a little more than a year after breaking ground at the distillery campus, located at 175 Yadkin Rd. in Southern Pines. Now, the building is up and with these core pieces of machinery coming in, it is only a matter of time before the space is fully operational and open for business.
The couple has been very busy during the past year preparing the space for production.

The Distillery has one more major piece of equipment to add to their facility before they are ready to start full production.

“The hammer mill. It will be installed after the column and it will be the piece of equipment that mills the grain down,” shared Jessica. “We’re on track, it’s just a matter of the final testing of all the equipment and things like that. Everything besides the hammer mill is here. We're looking forward to being through construction and getting open and hopefully having something really cool for our community.”
With this crucial piece of equipment officially installed, the Hallings are celebrating being that much closer to an official opening date currently on track to happen in early 2024.

A TIMELINE OF THEIR PROGRESS INCLUDES:

Nov. 3, 2022:
• Groundbreaking ceremony held at the BHAWK Campus.
February 2023:
• Construction officially begins on the facility by Morton Buildings, Inc., a construction company headquartered in Morton, Illinois.
May 2023:
• The official BHAWK sign is hung on the building and construction continues.
June 2023:
• 11 tanks and fermenters arrive on the BHAWK campus from Spokane, WA.
July 2023:

• BHAWK is issued its Distilled Spirits Plant permit: DSP-NC-21147! The permit designates the plant as federally bonded premises.

• 44,000 bottles for BHAWK’s Sergeant’s Valor, their premium brand of bourbons & ryes are produced and shipped from Slovenia to Southern Pines.

September 2023:
• Vodka & Gin mini column still arrives at the BHAWK campus from Detroit Stillworks. This will be used to produce BHAWK’s Madam Colonel clear spirits portfolio.

November 2023:
• Exterior work begins; parking lot is laid; landscaping begins with plans for a welcoming campus.
• Interior work begins; floors and tile installed, suite of kitchen bar equipment installed, toilets, sinks and additional interior details come together.
• Hiring begins for teammates including bartenders and chefs.
• BHAWK’s custom copper whiskey still is installed on campus.
December 2023:
• Power is on at the BHAWK Campus! Parking lot stripes and signs are laid out and installed.

Find out more about the Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko. online at www.hallingwhiskey.com.

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