Barton Brands of Maryland is now called Iron Bull Distillery
BALTIMORE, MD (March 15, 2022) – Distilled spirits bottling facility Barton Brands of Maryland is renaming its operations to reflect Baltimore’s rich railroad history. Going forward, the facility will be called Iron Bull Distillery.
Just 20 yards behind the Distillery runs the oldest railroad in the United States, the original westward rail laid by the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) and Pennsylvania railroads.
The Distillery, which opened after prohibition, relied on trains to bring grain and barrels and today, the driving sounds of the trains rolling by inspires the Distillery’s pride and relentless spirit.
The new name, Iron Bull Distillery, holds a lot of local significance. One of the largest gatherings of people in Baltimore County to date, which brought in more than 1.25 million visitors in 1927, was the Fair of the Iron Horse. The fair, which celebrated 100 years of rail history and achievement, took place just a couple miles from where the Distillery now stands and featured one of the most historic and famous trains, the John Bull.
“Our new identity as Iron Bull Distillery really embodies the spirit and grit of this region and our workforce,” Plant General Manager Kevin Valley said. “Our team takes pride in the work we do here, and that passion is really woven into this rebrand. We were excited to have our team members participate in this project through our brand council and by taking an all-team member vote to narrow our list of contending names for the facility.”
In addition to the new name, the Distillery has a new logo. The logo features the image of a train which takes the subtle shape of a bottle. The train has a traditional pilot or “cow-catcher” front, with a crown on top of the smokestack, both features inspired by the historic John Bull train. A cloud of steam follows the train which dons bull horns. On either side of the train are coordinates for the state of Maryland.
The Distillery, which Sazerac Company purchased in 2008, has expanded its operations over the past two years and grew its workforce by 50 percent. Constructed in 1939, it has served as a consistent source of employment for the community over the years, with retirees having accomplished 20, 30 and 45 years of tenure, and today some team members have more than 30 years of service.
About Sazerac
Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com/
