Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery was named a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior in 2013, sharing this distinction with less than 3,000 other properties in the United States. The Distillery is described as a “rare, intact example of a Distillery operating before, during, and after Prohibition.”
Distillery Grounds
Kentucky River
The Distillery is located on the banks of the Kentucky River. Its water is fresh and rich with minerals from its natural filtration through Kentucky limestone. The river was also used by Harrison Blanton in the early 1800s to ship whiskey to New Orleans.
WL Weller & Sons Bottling Hall
Still House
Regauge Room
Fermenter Room
Blanton's Bottling Hall
Gift Shop Gallery
Distillery Grounds
Thunder Gas
Built in 1948 as a mechanic’s garage, Thunder Gas features two working 1918 Boyle Dayton gas pumps, restored for Buffalo Trace by Rick Dale of the History’s Channel’s TV show “American Restoration.”
Today Thunder Gas functions as a work shop for the Distillery team responsible for performing light carpentry, buildings and grounds maintenance.
Dry House
The Dry House was built in 1943 from a federal grant to provide grain for farmers during the grain shortage of WWII. The unused solids from the mashing process are dried here and turned into animal feed for local farms and businesses.
Main Bottling
The Main Bottling Hall has several high speed bottling lines which can decorate, fill and pack many cases per day.
Mash House
Freshly milled corn is dropped into three 10,000-gallon pressure cookers and combined with Kentucky limestone water. After the corn has cooked for about one hour, other grains such as wheat, rye or malted barley are added to the mixture.
Still House
Here the fully fermented mixture, or "beer," complete with solids, enters the top of our 60,000-gallon Beer Still and descends naturally. The alcohol-rich vapor that is produced is then passed through the Doubler Still, creating a crystal-clear liquid called "white dog."
Grain Receiving
Hand-selected corn from local Kentucky and Indiana farms, along with other grains such as rye, wheat and malted barley are brought in daily by the truckload. It is here that the grains are carefully inspected, measured and tested to ensure they meet the rigid standards for quality, moisture and composition. The newly received grains are then transported to the hammer mill where they are milled to exact specifications.
Warehouse V
Built in 1952 to house the two millionth barrel of whiskey produced at the Distillery since Prohibition, this is the smallest bonded aging warehouse in the world. Licensed to hold just a single barrel, the warehouse is now home to special barrels as they age and has held each successive millionth barrel produced by the Distillery.
Warehouse H
Built in 1934, this warehouse holds nearly 16,000 maturing barrels of fine Kentucky bourbon. The metal shell allows the building to quickly warm during the day and cool at night, producing bourbon characteristics that most appealed to Colonel Albert B. Blanton.
Stony Point
Built in 1934 by Col. Albert Bacon Blanton as a private residence for himself and his wife, the mansion retains most of its original woodwork and intricate detail. Today, this house is named "Stony Point" after the land it sits on and serves as offices for Distillery staff.
George T. Stagg Gallery & Gift Shop
Constructed in 1881 as whiskey Warehouse A, the building housed barrels of aging whiskey for several decades. Today, it serves as the Visitor's Center, gallery, and gift shop.
Firehouse Sandwich Stop
Originally constructed in 1950 to protect the many barrels of aging whiskey on site, the Firehouse remained in use until the advent of modern sprinkler systems. Today the building houses the Firehouse Sandwich Stop and contains historical artifacts such as coats and boots worn by the firefighters.
Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse
The Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse–in recognition of his 50 years of dedication and contributions to making this one of the finest distilleries in the world. Accommodating groups from 30 to 200 guests, the Clubhouse's rustic veranda and balcony overlook an expansive tree-shaded courtyard bordered by an ornamental stream and floral gardens.
Building 3
Building 3 has seen a myriad of uses since its construction in 1880, serving as everything from a holding area for finished product before shipping to even housing a temporary bottling line. Today, it serves as the production area for our famous Peychaud's and Regans' Bitters, known by bartenders everywhere as an essential ingredient in many fine cocktails served all over the world.
Blanton's Bottling Hall
Built in 1890 and renovated in 1936, the building originally served as the boiler house that powered and heated the distillery. Today, the structure serves as the site for the bottling of our premium bourbons and whiskies, including Eagle Rare and Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon.
Warehouse C
For more than 130 years, whiskey has come to age inside brick walls and the wooden rows of support in Warehouse C. Nearly 24,000 white oak barrels stretch deep into the darkness, stacked to the ceiling and carefully placed to create a specific taste profile.
