Awards

The Distillery has won more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 500 awards for its wide range of premium whiskeys.

2024 Visitor Attraction of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky"

2023 Brand Ambassador American Whiskey of the Year, Freddie Johnson - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2023 Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year, Matt Higgins - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2022 Global Distiller of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" 

2022 American Distiller of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2021 World Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2020 Distiller of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2020 Visitor Attraction of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" 

2020 Global Visitor Attraction of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" 

2018 Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year, Matt Higgins - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2018 Distiller of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2018 Brand Innovator of the Year of the Year/Highly Commended - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2018  Whiskey Visitor Attraction of the Year/Highly Commended - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2017 Visitor Attraction of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2016 Master Distiller of the Year, Harlen Wheatley - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2016 Distillery of the Year, World - Drammie Awards

2016 Distillery of the Year, North America - Drammie Awards

2015 Americas & the Caribbean Spirits Producer of the Year - International Wine & Spirits Competition

2015 World Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" 

2015 Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America 

2014 International Wine & Spirits Competition - Distiller of the Year

2015 American Distillery Manager of the Year, Harlen Wheatley - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America 

2015 Whiskey Distillery of the Year/Highly Commended - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America 

2015 Whiskey Visitor Center of the Year/Highly Commended - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America 

2014 America and the Caribbean Spirits Producer of the Year - International Wine & Spirits Competition

2014 Whiskey Distiller of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America 

2013 Whiskey Distiller of the Year/Highly Commended - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America 

2012 Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2012 Whiskey Ambassador of the Year, Elmer T. Lee - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2012 Traverse Award for Promotional Video - First Place for Timeless Craft Video - Kentucky Travel Industry Association

2007 Distiller of the Year - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

2006 American Distiller of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky" America

2012 Traverse Award for Print Ad - First Place for Employee Ad Series - Kentucky Travel Industry Association

2011 Traverse Award for Excellence in Marketing - First Place for Oral History Promotional Video - Kentucky Travel Industry Assc

2011 Traverse Award for Excellence in Marketing - Honorable Mention for Screen Saver - Kentucky Travel Industry Association

2011 Class C Education Award, "Quest For The Perfect Bourbon" - Kentucky Historical Society

2010 Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky"

2009 American Visitor Attraction of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky"

2008 American Innovator of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky"

2008 Distillery of the Year - San Francisco World Spirits Competition

2007 Distiller of the Year - Whisky Magazine "Icons of Whisky"

2006 American Innovator of the Year - Whisky Magazine

2006 Distillery of the Year - Whisky Advocate

2006 Distiller of the Year - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

2005 Distiller of the Year - Whisky Magazine

2005 Distillery of the Year - Whisky Advocate

2000 Distillery of the Year - Whisky Advocate