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Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour

• October 10, 2023
• Distilleries , Distillery Reviews

113 Great Buffalo Trace Frankfort, KY 40601 Tours/Tastings: 800-654-8471 Gift Shop: 800-654-8471 or 502-696-5926 www.buffalotracedistillery.com Tour/Review

Please enjoy our Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour review!

Buffalo Trace Distillery Is A Great Place To Visit

Among distilleries anywhere, Buffalo Trace is top notch, and we’ll tell you just a few of the reasons why.  First, Buffalo Trace Distillery is a National Historic Landmark. Designated in 2013, the grounds are beautifully groomed and the historic buildings transport the visitor to another time. Second, tours are free.  Yes, all six currently offered tours and tastings are free of charge.  Third, the different types of tours available are impressive. Whether you want a general overview of the distillery, a behind the scenes look at the distilling operations or a walk through the Arboretum, Botanical Gardens and Bird Sanctuary, there’s a tour for you. We have taken many of the different tours over the years, and they are all very educational and enjoyable.

A Recent Expansion

Buffalo Trace recently underwent a massive expansion of both their distillery and the visitor center. The new visitor center is LARGE. It features the Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop, as well as portrait displays which are utilized during the tours. In addition, there are now multiple tasting rooms and tasting bars, as well as expanded seating. Even with this expansion, the number of people wanting to visit still exceeds capacity.

The Trace Tour at Buffalo Trace Distillery

On our first visit back in 2019, we chose The Trace Tour, which at the time, was the only tour that did not require reservations. Reservations are now required for all tours at this point, as Buffalo Trace Distillery has become a very popular destination. Importantly, The Trace Tour is the only tour that is open to all ages. All of the other tours are not available for children under 12 years of age. As of October 2023, the Trace Tour runs at least hourly, Monday-Saturday 9AM-5PM and Sunday 11AM-5PM.  Based on visitor flow, tours may run more frequently during the hour.  For example, the day we toured, the Trace Tour was being offered every 20-30 minutes, but your results may vary.  This tour is a great option to get a nice overview of the Distillery and to sample some of Buffalo Trace’s products.

Book Your Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour Well In Advance

Booking tours at Buffalo Trace Distillery is now a streamlined process, but it does take advanced planning. Tours are booked online at buffalotracedistillery.com , with dates released weekly, on Wednesdays at 10AM Eastern. Buffalo Trace releases dates up to 8 weeks in the future, so it behooves you to plan well in advance of your anticipated visit. They even post on their website the exact date and time when booking for specific dates will open up. Finally, a waitlist tool is also available if your dates of choice are already full.

Parking At Buffalo Trace Distillery

Parking is easy at Buffalo Trace distillery.  The paved lot is large, and the ample signage directing the way, makes it quick, too.  Motorcycle parking is available as well. The parking lot allows easy access to the visitor center. But first, after parking but before entering the distillery grounds and the visitor center proper, all visitors must check in the building at the end of the parking lot. Don’t forget to bring your ID!

Our Tour Begins

While the details may have changed a bit over the years, the general flow is similar. The order and choice of stops may very a bit, with some tours visiting more of the working distillery. Now a days, tours start from the visitor center and can either head directly back into the distillery or out onto the campus. Upstairs in the Visitor Center are multiple portraits of the men who shaped what would become the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Your tour may start discussing the distillery’s history, as you move from portrait to portrait. We have also had tours begin outside.

Our First Buffalo Trace Tour

On our initial The Trace Tour, after a brief introduction by our tour guide, we first headed to the nearby Free House where we saw an interesting video on the history of the Buffalo Trace Distillery. After the video, our guide explained the basics of aging the bourbon and was aided by a nifty display which included 4 barrels of bourbon with see through barrel heads. Each barrel was at a different stage in the aging process:  one at entry level, the next at 4 years, then 9 years, and finally 18 years.  All 4 barrels had a different level and color of bourbon.  It was a great visual aid for the explanation of the changes that take place during aging, including the yearly loss of bourbon due to evaporation (known as the “angels’ share”).

Buffalo Trace Distillery Warehouse C

Our next stop brought us to the very large Warehouse C. Warehouse C is a very old warehouse on the property. It was built by Colonel E.H. Taylor back in 1885 and has been the aging location for many fine whiskeys. In fact, two are highlighted in the E.H. Taylor Bourbon family – the Warehouse C and Tornado Surviving Bourbons. We walked in and immediately the sweet smell of the 24,000 barrels of aging bourbon whiskey overwhelmed our senses.  Here we learned about how Buffalo Trace warehouses and ages their products.

Time To Bottle The Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon

The Albert B. Blanton Bottling Hall was our final dabble into the world of the Buffalo Trace Distillery. While Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon is famously aged in Col. Blanton’s favorite Warehouse H, it is all bottled here. This tiny building is an active bottling facility for Blanton’s Bourbon and amazingly, it is all done by hand.  It was fun and surprising to see how many steps are required for the finished bottle.

Back To The Buffalo Trace Distillery Visitor Center

The Trace Tour, like most distillery tours, ends where it began, back at the visitor center.  This time we headed to the second floor for our tasting.  Five products were available for tasting.  They included the White Dog, Wheatley Vodka, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare Bourbon, Bourbon Cream, and of course, a bourbon ball.  Our tour and tasting lasted approximately one hour, although today’s The Trace Tour has a duration of 75 minutes. Overall, we really enjoyed our time at Buffalo Trace Distillery, and have returned many times since to take advantage of the other available tours. A visit is highly recommended; just don’t forget to plan well in advance! Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour review! Would you like to learn about a couple of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Bourbons? Check out our Buffalo Trace Bourbon Review and Blanton’s Bourbon Review !

Please note that Distillery Hours and Tour/Tasting Availability may vary. Please contact the distillery or check their web page or social media for details before you go.

Updated: October 10, 2023

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us?? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!

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Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour: What To Know Before You Go

By: Author Melody Pittman

Posted on May 16, 2023

Buffalo Trace Distillery – a must-visit Kentucky bourbon destination! This top-notch facility, voted “2018 Distiller of the Year”, is over 200 years old and found in Frankfort. Even if you’re not a bourbon lover, you’ll find enjoyment in your visit. The property itself covers 440 acres, and tours and tastings are free. Don’t miss out!

How to Get to the Buffalo Trace Distillery

Come visit Buffalo Trace Distillery, just 28 miles away from Lexington , Kentucky, or 55 miles from Louisville . Buffalo Trace is a National Historic Landmark that’s sure to impress.

Distillery Hours and Tour Prices

The wide variety of tours at Buffalo Trace Distillery run Monday through Friday and include a complimentary tasting. Note that reservations are required and tours are not available on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Discover the rich history and delicious bourbon of Buffalo Trace with a variety of tours! The Trace Tour is the most popular option that offers a glimpse into the brand’s past and an introduction to the iconic property . Available daily, no reservations required!

Learn about our pre-prohibition distilling history on the National Historic Landmark Tour, which focuses on the architecture and Buffalo Trace property, mostly from 1933 to 1953.

Get spooked on the Ghost Tour with legendary stories of haunted areas like Stony Point Mansion and The Old Taylor House. This one is only available Thursday through Saturday evenings.

For bourbon enthusiasts, the Bourbon Barrel Tour is the perfect pick. Discover the bourbon aging process, barrels, and what happens to them when they can no longer store the beloved bourbon.

Fun Fact : Buffalo Trace is America’s oldest continually-operating distillery.

The Whiskey Making Process

Come explore the secrets of the 90-proof (45% alcohol by volume) whiskey at EH Taylor Tour and Buffalo Trace’s Hard Hat Tour! Get an exclusive look at the distilling process, from grain to bottle.

Experience the unique “Bourbon Pompeii” on the E. H. Taylor Tour and learn about the man himself, while the Hard Hat Tour takes you on a journey from the grain distillery process to bottling. The tours offer sensory delights that will make any whiskey lover swoon.

Don’t miss your chance to discover how your favorite drink is made – tours run on Saturdays too!

The Tasting and Buffalo Trace Distillery Brands

Meet Mr. Freddie Johnson – the third-generation Buffalo Trace Distillery employee, local celebrity (Neat: The Story of Bourbon), and 2018 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee. As a VIP Visitor Lead at the distillery, Freddie is the ultimate tasting guide, making sipping and sampling an unforgettable experience.

During my visit, Freddie showcased his expertise with a selection of premium products – Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Rare Eagle Bourbon Whiskey, Wheatley Vodka, Bourbon Cream (think a beefed-up Bailey’s Irish Cream), and Freddie’s Root Beer. He even explained how to properly sip and get your mouth warmed up for the bourbon tasting.

Trust me when I say that pairing Bourbon Cream with soda is the ultimate dessert-like experience! I couldn’t resist taking both products home to enjoy later. And, of course, we couldn’t leave without indulging in a Rebecca Ruth Bourbon Ball made with Buffalo Trace.

Thanks to Freddie’s charming personality and passion for all things bourbon, my visit to Buffalo Trace Distillery was an incredible highlight and a must-do for any spirit enthusiast.

Buffalo Trace brands include O.F.C. Vintages, Van Winkle, Bourbon Cream, Benchmark, Wheatley Vodka, Ancient Age, and many more. One of the most coveted photography spots at Buffalo Trace Distillery is inside, with the hundreds of aging barrels as the backdrop.

Masks were required during my visit, but I will cherish the photo opportunity and remember learning about an essential part of Kentucky’s history.

Bonus Features at The Trace

Don’t forget to check out the Whiskey Vault, where rare and oldest bottles are displayed. As your tour guide explains the collection’s significance, appreciate the vast history within this tiny space. Cap off your visit at the George T. Staff Gift Shop and Gallery, where you will find signature logo apparel, collector’s items, bourbons, Wheatley Vodka, and more.

If you can’t make it in person, you can do a virtual tour at buffalotracedistillery.com/virtualtour .

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Buffalo Trace Tour - Buffalo Trace Distillery

• United States    
• Kentucky (KY)    
• Frankfort    
• Frankfort - Things to Do    
• Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Tour

Overall great experience touring Buffalo Trace. Lot of history there. One suggestion if you want to get the bourbon of the day. Book the first tour of the day and buy your bourbon before the tour. Eagle rare was available the day we were there.

I know this one isn't technically on the Bourbon Trail, but this was the HIGHLIGHT of our Bourbon Trail trip. Wow, Buffalo Trace did not disappoint. They were the only place we went where we didn't have to reserve a tour or tasting ahead of time, we just walked right into a tour and it was FREE. Tasting - FREE and you got to taste Blantons. Our tour guide Mark was so incredibly knowledgeable and really made the entire tour amazing.

I called first thing in the morning to find out what their selection of the day was for the gift shop before veering off the highway. The gentleman at the front gate was helpful and sweet… all of the staff inside could not have been any nicer. They microchip you, just kidding, they link your drivers license to your barcoded bracelet that allows you to buy one bottle every three months. I bought a bottle of Buffalo Trace and Weller (green). The BT is for cooking. The Weller is very nice. I had both of my kids with me who happily purchased their ginger ale-fantastic (I’m a ginger ale snob)! We bought root beer to go for a gift for someone who lives for the stuff and he loved it. Gift shop has a very wide variety of provisions. But my final words are the staff make the experience the best. I was struggling with my bottles and holding children’s hands and a girl chased me down offering to help me or get me a golf cart back to the parking lot. Seriously? This kindness and compassion is a rarity and I will absolutely be back.

This Distillery is almost unbelievable. Huge Cooker, Fermentation Vats, and Column Stills. The two stills must be 7 feet wide and 80 feet tall.

Positives first. Lindsey in the gift shop was very helpful trying to get an issue resolved. Second positive, the prices for alcohol at Buffalo trace, if you can get anything, are fair and not overpriced like other distilleries. Overall we were incredibly disappointed with our experience at Buffalo Trace. I was MORE than aware of how the process worked in terms of one "specialty" product being available per day and in extremely limited quantities. In order to address this policy, I booked the first tour of the day in hopes of getting first available product. (I actually booked an 11am tour only to be called the next day by BT to say their website made an error and there are no tours until 11:30 on Sunday). This caused me to have to change the other tour I had scheduled following BT). We arrived an hour and a half before opening. The Buffalo Trace team put out a sign that said check-in would be 11:15 and the distillery was to open at 11:30, which was supposed to be the start of our tour time. I immediately began to wonder how this could all come together if I wanted to try to get my product before my tour. We asked several employees at Buffalo Trace about our concern and got a variety of unhelpful answers about product availability. I did not know if product would be held back for the tour. Nobody would say yes or no about product availability since our tour started at the opening. However our tour guide Mark gave an ambiguous answer of “it should be there since you are the first tour. You should be fine.” I will emphasize he never said it would be available but we went with his thoughts. Since the gates did not open on time, the gates did not open on time we had no time to pick up our bottles before the tour. Not at all what I expected. While our tour was getting organized and initially started we began watching dozens of people walk out of the shop with boxes and boxes of Buffalo Trace products. At this point my husband and I were so distracted thinking the "Eagle Rare" would be gone, I left my tour to go see if product was still available. At that time ALL products were still available in the store. At this point I said something to Lindsay in the gift shop about how disappointed I was that I was missing my tour. No BT employees would say if product was or was not held for the first tour. I didn’t come all this way to not get the bottle of the day. Five minutes later Lindsay came back and said "BT is holding product for your tour and we want you to rejoin your tour". That was amazing! We were very appreciative. Although still skeptical. We finished our tasting and yes we got our two bottles of Eagle Rare at the end of the tour, but there was no bourbon cream left and many other items in the gift shop we’re gone as well. We just felt like we did everything to assure we got there first for product and still got screwed. It was all there when the tour began but we were not given a chance to buy it. Several of the employees (other than Lindsey) definitely had a put upon attitude and just seemed annoyed with customers. I get the craziness of Buffalo Trace popularity. I get how annoyed employees can get with annoying customers. That being said if you don’t have a good attitude don’t work in hospitality. My recommendation is if you do go to Buffalo Trace skip the tour or at least don't do one of the first two. Buy your stuff first, they don't care if you were there first. Tour was mediocre anyway and I would have rather skipped it altogether to buy what I wanted, which is WHY I WENT IN THE FIRST PLACE! Buffalo Trace, If you’re going to have a tour that starts when the distillery opens, best practices for customer service and simple thoughtfulness, should be to explain to the people on that first tour that it is most likely product will be gone by the time they are done with their tasting. Again, I waited and waited for the tour to be available online and signed up the moment availability was open on the Buffalo Trace website. I booked the first tour hoping to be able to get product first thing. We arrived an hour and a half early and we’re probably 15 in line just because we stayed in the car a little longer and we’re not concerned about product availability. If we had just gone into the gift shop instead of going on the tour there would have been plenty available for us. Such a disappointment for the end offer trip which was supposed to be the highlight of our Kentucky bourbon trail vacation. I will go back to Buffalo trace if I’m ever in the area. But I would never do a tour or tasting again. It’s not worth it. I’m fine standing in line for an hour or more in hopes of getting the product that I drove 7+ hours to try to get. Hopefully Buffalo Trace will improve their customer experience. I understand that most people are there to just go to the gift shop to buy the special bottle of the day. I hope this post help somebody else moving forward not waste their time and manage their expectations for what to get in visiting the Buffalo trace distillery.

We had the 10:30 tour this morning and not only is it a beautiful day in Frankfort our tour was great! On my husband’s bucket list. Only disappointment was not being able to get either Blanton’s or Weller. But there was lots of Eagle Rare available today. Lots of fun!

Buffalo Trace Daily

Predicting what the distillery gift shop will be selling tomorrow

Unveiling the Secrets: Booking Your Buffalo Trace Distillery Tour

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Count down to the next window of available tours.

Are you ready to embark on a journey through the history and flavors of one of the most iconic distilleries in the heart of Kentucky? The Buffalo Trace Distillery, renowned for its rich heritage and exceptional bourbon, awaits your visit! Here’s your comprehensive guide to securing a spot on this exclusive tour.

Why Visit Buffalo Trace Distillery?

Nestled in Frankfort, Kentucky, the Buffalo Trace Distillery stands as a testament to time, tradition, and exceptional craftsmanship. With a legacy spanning centuries, this distillery offers an unparalleled experience for whiskey enthusiasts, history buffs, and curious visitors alike.

Booking a tour at Buffalo Trace Distillery is a coveted opportunity due to its popularity and limited availability. Fear not, as the process is straightforward!

Step 1) Pick a reservation date

The Buffalo Trace reservation calendar that opens this Wednesday at 10:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time) for tours taking place in 8 weeks. You may book your reservation date online at reservations.buffalotracedistillery.com , but availability goes quick!

Once you click on a date, you will be prompted to select the type of tour you wish to join. Not all tours are available every day so you may have to browse different dates to find a specific tour.

Below are the choices to select from.

Hard Hat TOUR

• A start-to-finish tour of the distilling process throughout the facility.
• For safety purposes, this tour is not available for guests under 12 years old.
• This tour route is not ADA-accessible.
• All tours are complimentary and include a 15-minute tasting.
• Note that no allocated bottle released that day is held for you.
• Reservations are require

Expansion Tour : Limited Time Only

• A hard hat tour of the Distillery’s expansion to ferment, distill and bottle their whiskies.
• For safety purposes, this tour is not available for guests under 12 years old. This tour route is not ADA-accessible.
• Reservations are required.

Old Taylor Tour

• Tour of the Old Taylor House, the OFC Building, OFC Fermenter #7 nicknamed “Old Taylor”, and Warehouse C.
• The tour route includes stairs and there is a lot of walking involved so comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Those with acrophobia and/or fear of walking across metal grates may want to seek a different tour.
• Tour gives you the full history of the Distillery.
• Visitors of all ages are welcome to join us for this tour.
• Please be prepared for a significant amount of walking so comfortable shoes are recommended.
• The Trace Tour is open to all ages and is ADA-accessible.

Step 2) Enter your reservation Information

Next, you will need to enter the following information to continue with the booking process.

• Number of Guests over 21
• Number of Guests under 21
• How did you hear about the distillery?

Step 3) Special Requests

They will then ask for any special requests regarding ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act) or if it is for a special occasion.

Step 4) Review Your Order and Confirm

You will receive a confirmation number once you have finished.

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Tried to get on wait list for tomorrow 03/26/24, but kept asking me to select a date in the future???

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Purchasing and Tasting

Online Gift Shop

Where to Stay

Parking Directions

Firehouse Sandwich Stop

Keep Me Informed

Taste of the Trace

COVID-19: What to expect

Buffalo Trace Distillery COVID-19 Visitor Center Screening Policy and Procedure

Whiskey Supply Expansion

Plan Your Visit

Transportation Services

PURCHASING AND TASTING

Purchasing at buffalo trace distillery.

Our license allows us to sell a portion of our award-winning bourbon portfolio in the Distillery Gift Shop including Buffalo Trace , Eagle Rare , E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch , Blanton’s Single Barrel , Sazerac Rye , and W.L. Weller Special Reserve . Our Gift Shop is treated as a retail store and as such has to buy products from our distributor, not directly from our own production supply. This means we experience shortages and limited availability the same as traditional retail outlets.

Even though we are in the middle of a $1.2 billion expansion , our supply is constantly short of demand in the Gift Shop and we have to ration supplies based on production availability.  With the exception of Buffalo Trace, we limit the other brands to one per visitor, every three calendar months, in an effort to reach as many visitors as possible.  It is likely that we will sell through a day’s ration/allocation by the end of the day.  Due to the aforementioned products being in short supply, some brands may not be available every day in our Gift Shop, just as you see with our partner retailers.  

If you are making a trip to the Distillery to purchase a specific product, please check Gift Shop Product Availability  to see if it is available that day, and note, that although it may be available when we open, it is not guaranteed to be in stock when you arrive as it is made available to visitors as they arrive at the Distillery and we are not able to pre-sell or hold these products. 

Tasting at Buffalo Trace Distillery

All tour experiences conclude with a tasting of some of our award-winning products, including  Buffalo Trace Bourbon , Eagle Rare Bourbon , Wheatley Vodka , Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbon Cream ,  Freddie’s Root Beer , and a Rebecca Ruth bourbon ball. If you are unable to take a tour, please inquire with our team during your visit about signing up for a guided sampling experience, if available.

Buffalo Trace Distillery crafts some of the finest whiskies in the world.  Many of these are highly sought after and extremely popular.  Some of them are exceptionally hard to find.  We understand that you may wish to taste some of these offerings, such as Pappy Van Winkle , Weller , the Antique Collection ; and other limited releases while visiting the Distillery.  Unfortunately, these are not available in our Visitor Center and Gift Shop for either tasting or purchasing.

In deference to our retail partners and our whiskey shortages, we limit the number of products we taste and sell in the Visitor Center. To find out where in your area our products may be available, contact our Consumer Affairs Team .