Buffalo Trace Distillery begins flooding cleanup, expects to open modified retail space
With historic flood waters receded, an iconic Kentucky bourbon brand is starting to work its way back to normal.
Buffalo Trace Distillery has started the clean-up process at its Frankfort campus after near record-breaking widespread flooding covered the area. The Kentucky River crested at 48.27 feet on April 7, just shy of the record 48.5 feet.
The Frankfort-based spirits brand is inspecting its campus, assessing damage to buildings and impacts on its bourbon barrels, the company said April 12.
"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," Jake Wenz, Sazerac & Buffalo Trace Distillery CEO and president, said in a statement. "We are confident we will be back up and running shortly."
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As for visiting the campus — where bourbon, rye and vodka are made — the distillery center will be closed at least through April 13, though the company intends to open with modifications early next week.
The visitor center, which had flooding on its first floor, is closed for repairs. Meanwhile, a modified retail hub will open in the Freehouse Building, where visitors check-in, located adjacent to the visitor parking lot. This space will be made accessible via an email reservation system and offered first to those who had tours interrupted by the flooding.
Distillery workers, along with engineers and professional cleaners, are assessing damage to the campus and planning for repairs. A tally of damage is not yet available.
On April 10, the company started on what's expected to be a multi-week effort to inspect its barrels touched by the flooding using "a very involved process."
Buffalo Trace said it has successfully recovered barrels that were affected by flood waters in prior floods and anticipates doing the same this year. The company said it's not expecting a "meaningful" loss of barrels.
More: Let's Talk Derby with Kathryn & Kirby: How to make a mint julep for the Kentucky Derby
'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, in a release. 'We have never, nor will we ever, compromise on the quality or safety of the whiskey we make.'
The company resumed shipping of its finished product as of April 11 and anticipates resuming bottling operations in the coming week.
Reach growth and development reporter Matthew Glowicki at mglowicki@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4000.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Buffalo Trace Distillery to open modified retail space after flooding
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