Carson Valley distillery and visitor experience revitalizes historic buildings and town of Minden.

San Francisco, CA, July 1, 2019 - Experience design firm Eight Inc. has reimagined a historic site as a sustainable new distillery and visitor experience for Bently Heritage Estate Distillery.

The fully modernized and sustainable facility houses Bently Heritage’s entire spirit production operations, from grain storage to bottling. It also allows visitors to immerse themselves in the distillation process and learn the story that ties the Bently family to the site and the surrounding valley.

Eight Inc.’s respectful renovation preserves and celebrates the historic nature of two abandoned buildings. By integrating with the Town of Minden master plan, the project also brings significant upgrades to the surrounding area and its infrastructure. 

Thanks to a design approach that prioritizes existing materials, sustainability and heritage, many elements of the original structures have been preserved—including the historic facades. Eight Inc.’s vision also sees the surrounding area become a native habitat and public park, with upgraded local paths and links to nature trails beyond.

The spirit production itself divides between two historic buildings—the Creamery and the Mill. The layout of the Creamery is organized to reflect how ingredients move through the process, from farm to bar. 

The heart of the customer experience is the Mill. On the first floor, visitors are invited to familiarize with the space and the Bently Heritage story. At the upper-level bars, they can enjoy a tasting with a view over the town and the single-malt whiskey production within four adapted, retrofitted grain silos below. 

“We’re very proud to have helped breathe new life into these two dramatic, historic buildings. The result of this amazing collaboration with Chris Bently and his team is a world-class visitor experience that enhances the town of Minden.” – Wilhelm Oehl, Partner & CXO, Eight Inc.

Bently Heritage Estate Distillery co-founders Christopher and Camille Bently are avid environmentalists. Christopher fondly recalls playing as a child in the mill that now houses the Bently Heritage Public House and Tasting Room. Bently Heritage embraces its place in local culture and history, and sees itself as a steward of the environment. It grows and harvests all its own grains in the Carson Valley, and hopes to set a new standard for sustainable production—for Nevada and for the world.

Eight Inc. is a global creative collective that specializes in designing innovative, integrated human experiences. Its 200+ business creatives and strategic designers collaborate across 11 studios, 7 time zones, and 3 continents. The firm celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.