Buffalo Trace Distillery faced disaster in recent days after non-stop rain caused the river to burst its banks. According to Kentucky.com, Buffalo Trace Distiller Harlen Wheatley called the flood “one of the most severe that we’ve seen.”
Luckily, however, the Kentucky River has returned to normal levels, allowing Buffalo Trace Distillery to begin comprehensive recovery efforts at its historic Frankfort campus. Flood waters have completely receded, enabling distillery teams to access all areas for cleanup and assessment.
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“I am grateful for the excellent preparation work that our teams completed in advance of the flood, which mitigated the extent of the damage we might otherwise have sustained,” said Jake Wenz, Sazerac & Buffalo Trace Distillery CEO and President. “As of this morning we started shipping our finished goods again and we expect to resume bottling sometime next week.”
Wenz emphasized that restoration of the National Historic Landmark remains their top priority to ensure a quick return to production and tourism operations.
Barrel Assessment Process Underway
Inspection of potentially affected whiskey barrels began Thursday, April 10, and will continue until all have been thoroughly assessed. The process involves both visual barrel inspection and the same quality testing protocols used for all Buffalo Trace products.
“A lot of heart and soul goes into every product we make, which is why our team is dedicated to testing with heavy scrutiny each barrel possibly affected by flood waters to ensure there are no issues,” said Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller. “We have never, nor will we ever, compromise on the quality or safety of the whiskey we make.”
Based on experience from previous floods, distillery officials expressed confidence in their recovery process and do not expect meaningful barrel losses, though the inspection is expected to take several weeks to complete.
Visitor Operations Temporarily Modified
The Buffalo Trace Visitor Center sustained flooding on its first floor and required repairs before fully reopening. According to a brand press release, the plan was to keep the visitor center closed until April 13th at the earliest. Check the Buffalo Trace Distillery website for updates.
The company intends to share details about community relief initiatives in coming weeks. In the meantime, those wishing to support local flood recovery efforts can contribute to the Franklin County Flood Relief Fund established by the city.
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Buffalo Trace leadership expressed gratitude for support from employees, the Franklin County community, fans, and vendor partners during the recovery process.
“We know it is disappointing to have the Distillery closed and it is our top priority to welcome guests again as soon as possible. Recovery and clean-up teams at Buffalo Trace Distillery will continue to work diligently to prepare the grounds for reopening and the facility for operation,” said Wenz. “We also want to again say a heartfelt thanks to our team who has been tireless in their support, and the Franklin County community as well as our fans and vendor partners for their support and understanding during this time. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.”
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