The World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery

The world’s most award-winning Distillery

A National Historic Landmark

America’s oldest continually operating bourbon distillery

Home to over 20 spirit brands

The Buffalo Trace Distillery is the oldest continually operating distillery in America, crafting bourbon on the same Kentucky grounds for over 200 years.

We are the world’s most award-winning distillery, still crafting whiskey every day and open to welcome visitors. Our mission is simple: create exceptional spirits, share them with the world and preserve bourbon’s heritage for generations to come.

Home of Bourbon

Buffalo Trace Distillery is first and foremost dedicated to the craft of bourbon whiskey.

For over two centuries, we have pursued the vision of making the “finest whiskeys in the world.” Today, as the world’s most award-winning distillery, we keep bourbon at the heart of everything we do.

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Latest Awards

2019

TROPHY FINALIST

Great Value / Tried & True Award Ultimate Spirits Challenge

2019

SILVER

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

2024

DOUBLE PLATINUM

Double Platinum  ASCOT Awards

2022

SILVER

International Wine & Spirits Competition

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Buffalo Trace Distillery History

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TEH DISTILLERY TODAY

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THE DISTILLERY IN PROHIBITION

The history of our distillery, known today as Buffalo Trace, begins in 1775 with the founding of Leestown along the banks of the Kentucky River. It was here, on the paths once carved by migrating buffalo, that early settlers first began making whiskey.

Over the next two centuries, the distillery grew and evolved, carrying our craft through wars, floods, fires, tornadoes and even Prohibition, always staying true to the pursuit of quality bourbon.

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Through the years, the distillery operated under several names that marked important chapters in our legacy: O.F.C. Distillery, founded by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. in 1870, George T. Stagg Distillery from 1904, and finally, in 1999, it was rechristened as the Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Today, it stands as the world’s most award-winning distillery, where history and innovation continue to meet in every barrel.

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Legacy in Time

Our history, beginning in 1775, is marked by milestones and defining moments. Discover the events that shaped the Buffalo Trace Distillery’s legacy and continue to inspire our craft today.

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KEY MILESTONES

1775

Hancock and Willis Lee established Leestown North
of the Frankfort settlement along the Kentucky River,
now home to Buffalo Trace Distillery.

1870

E. H. Taylor, Jr. invests over $70,000, a “small fortune,”
as he builds a new distillery on the site.

1904

The Distillery is re-christened
as the George T. Stagg Distillery

The Buffalo Trace Name

The Buffalo Trace Distillery takes its name from the ancient pathways, or “traces,” carved by buffalo as they migrated through the rugged Kentucky wilderness.

These trails, known as buffalo traces, guided early American explorers and settlers westward, just as its bourbon carries forward a legacy of craftsmanship and discovery.

National Historic Landmark

In 2013, we received a rare distinction; the Buffalo Trace distillery was designated a National Historic Landmark.

This prestigious honor recognizes us as a rare, intact example of American whiskey-making - one of a few fully functional and operational facilities with this status. More than a historic site, our distillery is a living and breathing landmark, where bourbon is still made with centuries of tradition.

UNIQUE FACTS

With more than 600 employees in Frankfort, Kentucky, Buffalo Trace is more than a workplace, it’s a community. Knowledge, stories and pride are passed down through generations, keeping the flame of tradition alive in every barrel we craft.

Timeless Craft

The Buffalo Trace bourbon making process

Our craft begins with hand-selected grains from Kentucky and Indiana farms, combined with pure limestone water, rich in minerals. Every detail matters, from milling and mashing to natural fermentation and distillation in traditional copper stills.

The journey continues in barrels made from 70–80 year-old white oak, charred to perfection, then aged in our historic warehouses, some dating back to the 1800s.

This meticulous process has produced a range of highly acclaimed whiskeys and bourbons, each representing a commitment to quality, tradition, and innovation. With over 1,000 awards for our premium spirits, the distillery continually pursues the ideal of the “perfect bourbon,” ensuring that every bottle reflects the mastery and passion of our master craftsmen.

By honouring tradition and embracing change in the timeless craft of whiskey-making, The Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned a place of leadership among the legendary whiskey makers of the world.

Buffalo Trace Warehouses

The Buffalo Trace Distillery’s aging warehouses date back to 1881, offering a variety of structures found nowhere else.

Each one creates its own unique environment, shaping our whiskey’s character in different ways. From brick to metal, wooden ricks to concrete, large to small, every barrel matures at its own pace, developing the rich amber color and distinctive flavor that make our Buffalo Trace whiskeys so remarkable.

Welcome Centre

Warehouse A

Built in 1881, this former bourbon aging warehouse now serves as Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Visitor Center, welcoming guests from around the world to explore our history and experience our craft.

E.H. Taylor Built

Warehouse C

Constructed in 1885, Col. E.H. Taylor introduced steam heating in the five stories of ricks. This keeps bourbon from dormancy in the winter, a technology that we still use today to produce our world class bourbons.

22,000 barrels

Warehouse D

Completed in 1907, Warehouse D is home to around 22,000 barrels. It is the only warehouse with abandoned floors because an exterior barrel elevator that replaced the internal lift, cannot reach the top two floors.

Albert Blanton Built

Warehouse H

Constructed in 1935 by Albert B. Blanton, this metal clad warehouse is the home of the World's First Single Barrel Bourbon, Blanton's.

Legendary People Behind Buffalo Trace Distillery

Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr.

George T. Stagg

Albert B. Blanton

Pappy Van Winkle

Legendary People Behind Buffalo Trace Distillery

From pioneering distillers to innovators who elevated bourbon to new heights. Meet the remarkable individuals who shaped the Buffalo Trace Distillery and explore their stories.

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