Buffalo Trace assesses damage as cleanup from flooding continues
For more than 200 years, Buffalo Trace Distillery has been dedicated to one craft: making bourbon. While the focus is still there, it's shifting just a little to focus on recovery.
RELATED l Buffalo Trace extends distillery's closure as floodwaters begin to recede
'In our 200+ year history, we have lived through a few floods,' said Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. 'This past week has been the latest in one of the most severe that we've seen.'
Relentless rainfall beginning April 2 drenched most of the state, leaving many, like Buffalo Trace officials, to deal with the damage left behind.
Floodwaters at Buffalo Trace have receded, and with hope on the horizon, recovery efforts have started.
'The total extent of the damage is still being determined, but so far it includes many of our buildings on campus, from production buildings to Bourbon Pompeii, Stillhouse, and the guest experience buildings such as our visitor center,' Wheatley added.
Wheatley said hundreds of trade experts are working around the clock to assist with cleanup.
'As we bring buildings and equipment back into service, our teams are also ensuring that there is no compromise to our quality,' said Wheatley.
He said the core of their operation, including the distribution center and bottling facility, remained unaffected.
'Thus distribution began today,' Wheatley said. 'We actually shipped out this morning, first load. The distillery team is working toward resuming bottling operations as early as next week.'
Even in tough times, bourbon doesn't lose its standards, which is why inspections of barrels started Thursday and will continue until each one has been fully reviewed. Some barrels were lost during the flooding, according to general manager Tyler Adams.
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'Inspection is expected to take several weeks; however, we do not expect to experience any meaningful loss of our inventory,' added Wheatley.
He said they are working to welcome the public back in a modified capacity next week.
For now, the distillery remains closed through Sunday, April 13.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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