Ray Jamieson, of Memphis, is building the distillery along Ky. 125 in Fulton County with his son, Hugh Jamieson. The facility will produce bourbon whiskey and other distilled spirits by this fall, he said.

"The steel already is going up," Ray Jamieson said. He said it will include a visitor's center and production building, both of which should be finished in about six months.

Jamieson said about 2,500 barrels of bourbon will be made in the first year and 5,000 after that.

Filings with the state Economic Development Cabinet indicate the project will cost $770,000. The distillery will employ about 15 people.

"We're very excited he's picked Hickman," said Penny Morgan, Fulton County economic director. "He sees the town as having potential for progress."

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