Withstanding the challenges of floods, fires and even Prohibition, Buffalo Trace Distillery has been part of the story that has shaped the American spirit industry. Originally known as the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C) Distillery, Buffalo Trace has historic roots dating back as far as 1775 when it was founded by American pioneer Hancock Lee. 

Yet, it wasn’t until 1812 that distillation began at the facility in Frankfort, Ky. In 1886, the distillery was named the George T. Stagg Distillery, honoring a man who would go on to become a legend in the whiskey industry. And more than a century later in 1992, Sazerac Co. bought the Kentucky River Distillery and renamed it Buffalo Trace Distillery in 1999, further cementing the area’s reputation as a center of bourbon production while paying homage to the site and the region’s heritage and history.

Earlier this year, Buffalo Trace was impacted by the heavy rains that hit the area, but in keeping with its motto of “timeless dedication to respecting the past while fearlessly innovating for the future,” distillery production today is uncompromised.

“April’s flood saw the Kentucky River crest at just over 48 feet, the highest in the Distillery’s history,” says Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace. “Flood waters affected certain buildings more than others. Those closest to the river, such as Bourbon Pompeii seen on the Old Taylor Tour, saw flood waters reach close to the first-floor ceiling. Others saw feet or inches depending on location, and some saw no flooding at all.

“In total, roughly 90% of the Distillery was underwater in some capacity,” Wheatley continues. “No buildings received any external structural damage. However, we did have internal damage to the Gift Shop and to our Eagle Rare Administrative Building. Additionally, several pieces of equipment were damaged, such as electrical control panels and numerous cistern tanks and storage tanks.”

Although the Distillery paused production for about four weeks to allow for flood recovery, Wheatley credits the employees — more than 200 people from outside vendors and more than 800 Distillery employees — who worked around the clock to clean up and make the necessary repairs for resuming production.

“The visitor experience at Buffalo Trace, however, was only paused for about one week,” he explains. “Though in a limited capacity, the Distillery was able to welcome guests back for a modified experience that ran for about four weeks. Once production was back up and going, the visitor experience was able to resume normal tour operations.” 

Wheatley adds that roughly six months removed from the flooding, the Distillery is fully recovered from the flood and back better than ever. 

“On Sept. 29, the Distillery celebrated the filling of its 9 millionth barrel of bourbon since Prohibition,” he says. “This accomplishment comes two and a half years after filling the 8 millionth barrel and on the heels of the completion of the Distillery’s $1.2 billion expansion project (completed in January 2025), which has allowed the Distillery to achieve this milestone moment in record time.”

Meeting the demand

Proven to be adept in the art of whiskey-making, Buffalo Trace is no stranger to the state of today’s distilled spirits market.

“The market remains strong and continues to demonstrate growing interest, especially globally,” Wheatley says. “Bourbon, in particular, remains a standout category that we believe is supported by consumer enthusiasm for premium and authentic brands. Consumers are showing sustained interest in exploring spirits that honor history, tradition and quality.

“We believe today’s consumers are seeking authenticity, quality, and a meaningful story behind the brands they support,” he continues. “There’s still a lot of discovery and education happening around bourbon, both in the U.S. and around the world. This enthusiasm for bourbon, which oftentimes is brand new to consumers, contributes to the growth.” 

As far as the market performance in the year to come, Wheatley anticipates nothing but continued growth.

“Speaking for Buffalo Trace Distillery, the outlook for the year ahead is positive and positioned for ongoing growth,” he explains. “We’re making more whiskey than ever before and are excited to share it with consumers around the globe.” 

Among the Distillery’s vast portfolio of spirits, Wheatley considers Buffalo Trace Bourbon, its flagship brand, to be quite popular. “However, we also see consumer interest in Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor, Jr. and Weller to name a few,” he says. 

This summer, Buffalo Trace released a higher proof variation of Sazerac Rye Whiskey with the launch of Sazerac Rye Whiskey 100 Proof. Wheatley explains that what differentiates this variety from others in the Distillery’s portfolio is that it is crafted to offer enhanced flavor, versatility and control in cocktail creation. 

“Sazerac Rye 100 Proof delivers a richer, more structured whiskey that complements rather than overwhelms the rye flavor and stands up beautifully in both bold and classic cocktails such as the Sazerac and the Manhattan,” he says.

Also released this summer was the second edition of Weller Millennium and Weller 18 Year Old from its Original Wheated Bourbon brand.

“We are always looking at ways to innovate and the wheated mash bill is an exciting one for us to experiment with,” Wheatley says. “The motivation was to push the boundaries of maturation and blending with wheat. Weller 18 being the release that explored maturation (18 years being the oldest age stated whiskey in the Weller portfolio) and Weller Millenium 2 being the release that explored blending (blending liquid from barrels distilled in 2001, 2003 and 2006). Both showcase the impressive versatility of wheat and honor the legacy of William Larue Weller who pioneered the wheated bourbon recipes.”

As a limited-edition release, Buffalo Trace also crafted Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council. 

The inspiration for Distiller's Council goes back to 1996, Wheatley says, when a group of bourbon visionaries and retired George T. Stagg Distillery craftsmen convened at the Distillery in their pursuit of creating the world’s best whiskey. 

“As they sampled more than 30 whiskeys across a range of ages, mash bills and proofs, one voice cut through the room with a thought, ‘Well, we don’t make whiskey the way we used to.’ This led to the Distiller’s Council unpacking the way that whiskey was made when they first started their careers,” Wheatley explains. “That meeting, until now known by bourbon insiders as the ‘Distiller’s Council’ resulted in a rediscovery of E.H. Taylor’s pioneering techniques that had been lost to history. 

“From this meeting came the revival of Taylor’s sour mashing process and, later, the creation of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council,” he continues. “We’re very pleased that this bourbon has been met with great enthusiasm. It’s a limited-edition release, but certainly one fans are excited about and eager to try.” 

Expanding its reach

Aside from its enthusiasm for creating authentic, premium spirits, Buffalo Trace is all about giving back to the community it serves.

“In May, Buffalo Trace Distillery launched the Pour it Forward for Kentucky charity program, which raised more than $160,000 to aid flood victims across Kentucky,” Wheatley says. 

By partnering with BlockBar, 100% of the funds raised through the Pour it Forward for Kentucky program went directly back to the community through the American Red Cross and the Franklin County Flood Relief Fund held at the Blue Grass Community Foundation, he explains.  

Wheatley also spotlights that, historically, the bottles yielded from the Distillery’s millionth barrel have been used toward charity fundraising. “We will soon be bottling the 7 millionth barrel and look forward to what money can be raised from that barrel,” he says. 

Furthering consumer engagement, this October, the distillery announced the launch of Buffalo Trace Distillery On Tour, a tasting and retail experience coming to four U.S. cities: St. Louis, Kansas City, Jacksonville and Tampa.

“We have long sought to bring our story to those who cannot, or have not yet, visited the Distillery,” Wheatley says. “Buffalo Trace Distillery On Tour allows us to meet our fans where they are to share our history, craftsmanship, and award-winning whiskies.

“Each stop on Buffalo Trace Distillery On Tour will offer a total of 10 complimentary tasting experiences spread out over four days with staggered afternoon and evening time slots,” he continues. “Each session will feature a guided tasting lasting approximately 1.5 hours and a lineup of popular brands including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare 10 Year Old, Weller Antique 107, and the new Sazerac Rye 100 Proof. Guests will also have the rare opportunity to shop custom, city-specific barware available only at the experience while supplies last.” 

Wheatley also points to Night at the Distillery — a Halloween event featuring self-guided tours featuring ghostly tales and live entertainment — as another stand out marketing promotion that took place this October.

Tickets were $35 a person and included entry to the self-guided walking trail, three signature cocktail tastings, one neat pour and a curated snack box, Wheatley notes. Each guest also could take home a 1-liter bottle of Sazerac Rye 100 Proof and a collectible Night at the Distillery reusable tote as keepsakes, he says.

Moving forward, Buffalo Trace is slated to open a permanent dining option in spring of 2026, offering food and beverage options alongside its complimentary tours and tastings.

“There’s a natural connection between food and spirits tastings, and we are excited for visitors to further connect with our brands in this way,” Wheatley explains. “The Cafe will bring a welcoming space that celebrates our history and complements the authentic experience we are known for.”

And, as far as goals for the distillery in the year to come, Wheatley says, “We’re excited to fully utilize everything that comes with the Distillery expansion, which will allow us to increase our barrel output. 

“As we produce more, we also need to age more whiskey,” he continues. “We’re excited to continue building more warehouses and expand our warehouse operations. Additionally, we look forward to developing new products for future consumers.”