This week’s hot spot is Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort. My husband Ben and I love taking out-of-town visitors to Buffalo Trace, in part because it’s just a few miles from our house! Buffalo Trace is home to some of the world’s best and most famous bourbons – Pappy Van Winkle, anyone? But they also make Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor, Stagg, Blanton’s, Elmer T. Lee, and many other spirits. Buffalo Trace was recently named the 2020 American Distiller of the Year by Whisky Magazine. The magazine also awarded Buffalo Trace the 2020 and Visitor Attraction of the Year after it reported 300,000+ visitors in 2019, an increase of 35% over the previous year and 466% since 2010. Those numbers are particularly impressive considering Buffalo Trace is not on the “official” Bourbon Trail (or should I say has not opted to join the trade organization that markets the “official” Bourbon Trail).
Most recently, we went as part of group celebrating a friend’s birthday. Our group of 12 joined a group of young men from Texas who were in town for a wedding for a tour. One of the many (many) great things about Buffalo Trace is that the tours and tastings are FREE, in stark contrast to some other local distilleries. Ben and I have probably been on 6 tours there, but each has been different and educational. This time, every stop on the tour was a part of the distillery we’d never seen before.
It was a stunningly beautiful day, and we were so happy to see the blue skies and sunshine. But OMG, was it cold. Pro Tip: If you plan to take a tour, make sure you dress for it. You’ll be walking, sometimes on uneven ground, outside. Do yourself a big favor, and check the weather forecast before you leave home!
The tour finished with a tasting upstairs in the main visitor building. There is an elevator if you need it. We tasted Wheatley Vodka, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare and the ever-popular Bourbon Cream and bourbon balls. Even people who don’t love bourbon love Bourbon Cream and bourbon balls.
Before or after (or instead of) a tour, you can wander around Buffalo Trace’s expansive gift store. In addition to the clothing and books and glassware you’d expect to see, sometimes you can pick up hard-to-find bourbons. When we arrived, we didn’t see any “special” bourbons, but as we were leaving, we noticed staff were putting Eagle Rare on the shelves. Ben grabbed a bottle, and some people in our group grabbed two.
Like many distilleries, Buffalo Trace is owned by a larger company, Sazerac Company, Inc. But the experience there still feels intimate. The whole vibe is very laid back and welcoming. Check it out – I hope you love it!
Where is it?
Buffalo Trace Distillery
113 Great Buffalo Trace
Frankfort, KY 40601
Click here to go to the Buffalo Trace website.
