Whiskey Barrels Will Fill Former Deufol Plant In Sunman

In December, Sunman Town Council approved a five year tax abatement on new equipment for MGP Ingredients.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Deufol had closed in Sunman. The company's president says Deufol no longer owns the building, but does lease space in it and still employs approximately 200 full-time employees there and nearly as many temporary workers on a daily basis. Eagle Country 99.3 regrets the error.

(Sunman, Ind.) - The former Deufol plant in Sunman will soon house thousands of whiskey barrels.

The 415,000 square foot site on State Road 101 was sold last October to MGP Ingredients of Indiana, LLC., according to property records.

MGPI will use the facility to house whiskey barrels for aging. The company did not wish to comment on the move, but the barrels would presumably be trucked in from its distillery in Lawrenceburg.

“We hated to see Deufol leave, but at least somebody will move in there,” said Sunman Town Council member Don Foley.

In December, Sunman Town Council approved a five year tax abatement on new equipment for MGP Ingredients. Foley says MGP will employ fewer than a dozen people in Sunman.

Some Sunman residents are raising concerns about a black fungus which is known to grow on structures near whiskey barrel storage sites. Such is the case on some buildings near the MGPI distillery in Lawrenceburg and Greendale.

“The local impacts to this are huge, as the ethanol released during the aging process releases a black fungus into the air. This black fungus basically coats homes, signs, cars, trees, etc.” says Kara Schott. “Additionally, homeowners and business owners are set to lose substantial value from their home.”

The fungus is caused by ethanol evaporating out of the barrels during the aging process, but it is not known to cause any human health problems.

“We are concerned about it. Yes, we’re looking into it. Yes, we’re trying to be proactive and do some things there,” said Foley.

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