Buffalo Trace Distillery

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George T. Stagg Distillery
Buffalo Trace Tower.jpg
Buffalo Trace Distillery water tower
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Location Frankfort, Kentucky
Coordinates 38°13′03″N84°52′10″W / 38.21750°N 84.86944°W / 38.21750; -84.86944
Built1805
ArchitectOberwarth, Leo L.; Blanton, Albert Bacon
Architectural styleRomanesque, Colonial Revival
NRHP reference No. 01000450 [1]
Added to NRHPMay 2, 2001

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, owned by the Sazerac Company. [2] It has historically been known by several names, including the George T. Stagg Distillery and the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery. [3] [4] Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey, was introduced in August 1999. The name "Buffalo Trace" refers to the ancient buffalo trackway that crosses the Kentucky River in Franklin County, Kentucky. The Sazerac Company purchased the distillery in 1992. [2]

Contents

Under its old name, George T. Stagg Distillery, the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 2001, and designated a National Historic Landmark on March 11, 2013. [1] [5]

History

Grounds and guest house Buffalo trace distillery grounds.jpg
Grounds and guest house

The company claims the distillery to be the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States. [6] Another distillery with similar historical extent is Burks' distillery, now used for production of Maker's Mark. According to its citation in the registry of National Historic Landmarks, Burks' Distillery's origins extend to 1805, [7] and Burks' Distillery is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest operating bourbon distillery. [8] [9]

Records indicate that distilling started on the site that is now the Buffalo Trace Distillery in 1775 by Hancock Lee and his brother Willis Lee who died in 1776. [10] [11] The first distillery was constructed in 1812 by Harrison Blanton. [12] In 1870 the distillery was purchased by Edmund H. Taylor and given its first name, the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery. [2] Taylor sold the distillery eight years later to George T. Stagg along with the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery. This second distillery was sold within the year to James Graham, in order to add more land to the O.F.C. Distillery. In 1886, Stagg installed steam heating in the storage warehouses, the first climate controlled warehouse for aging whiskey in the nation. [13]

During Prohibition, the distillery was allowed to remain operational, in order to make whiskey for "medicinal purposes". [6]

The master distiller's residence Buffalo Trace residence.jpg
The master distiller's residence

Gary Gayheart became the master distiller in 1972, until his retirement in 2005. He was succeeded by Harlen Wheatley.

In 2016, Buffalo Trace Distillery announced plans to expand operations with a capital investment of $200 million. [14]

In October 2016, during renovations to convert a building to a meeting and event space, workers discovered the foundation of the original 1873 distillery building, which burned down in 1882, along with the remains of fermenters from that same year. The original distillery foundation was left in place after the fire and an expanded distillery building was built as a replacement. The site is now open for visitors to Buffalo Trace. [15]

In March 2022, Buffalo Trace Distillery announced the creation of six-litre OFC Vintage Bourbon Whiskeys, distilled in 1982, and their accompanying NFTs. The NFTs were sold on Blockbar, with the highest bid of $60,000. The sale was part of the distillery's mission to raise US$2 million for charity by donating 2,022 bottles of whiskey to fundraising causes. [16]

Production

Aging warehouse Buffalo Trace Distillery Barrel Aging Warehouse (inside).jpg
Aging warehouse

Production capacity at Buffalo Trace is estimated at 2,650,000 US gallons (10,000,000 L) of whiskey per year. This is carried out at a beer still with a capacity of 60,000 US gallons (230,000 L). [17]

Spirits

Buffalo Trace bourbon Buffalo Trace.JPG#file
Buffalo Trace bourbon

While Buffalo Trace Distillery is mainly known for its bourbon, it also produces other spirits such as rye whiskey and vodka.

"Buffalo Trace" is also a bourbon brand made by the distillery that was introduced in August 1999, two months after the distillery changed its name from the George T. Stagg Distillery.

The following spirits are produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery: [18] [19]

Buffalo Trace also produces spirits for private bottlers and store brands.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bourbon whiskey</span> Type of American whiskey

Bourbon is a type of barrel-aged American whiskey made primarily from corn (maize). The name derives from the French Bourbon dynasty, although the precise source of inspiration is uncertain; contenders include Bourbon County in Kentucky and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both of which are named after the dynasty. The name bourbon may not have been used until the 1850s, and the association with Bourbon County was not evident until the 1870s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rye whiskey</span> Distilled alcoholic beverage

Rye whiskey can refer to two different, but related, types of whiskey:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maker's Mark</span> Bourbon whisky that is distilled in Loretto, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory

Maker's Mark is a small-batch bourbon whisky produced in Loretto, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory. It is bottled at 90 U.S. proof and sold in squarish bottles sealed with red wax. The distillery offers tours, and is part of the American Whiskey Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Beam</span> Brand of bourbon whiskey

Jim Beam is an American brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory. It is one of the best-selling brands of bourbon in the world. Since 1795, seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the company that produces the brand. The brand name became "Jim Beam" in 1943 in honor of James B. Beam, who rebuilt the business after Prohibition ended. Previously produced by the Beam family and later owned by the Fortune Brands holding company, the brand was purchased by Suntory Holdings in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven Hill</span> American distillery company

Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. is a private, American family-owned and operated distillery founded in 1935 and headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky, that produces and markets the Heaven Hill brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and a variety of other distilled spirits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eagle Rare</span>

Eagle Rare is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled and distributed by the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Eagle Rare is 90 proof bourbon, aged for either 10 or 17 years, depending on the variety. It was introduced in 1975 and is distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single barrel whiskey</span>

Single barrel whiskey is a premium class of whiskey in which each bottle comes from an individual aging barrel, instead of coming from blending together the contents of various barrels to provide uniformity of color and taste. By contrast, some other whiskeys, even ones that are not blends, may be combined from more than one batch, or even from differing years to achieve consistency. The whiskey from each barrel is bottled separately, with each bottle bearing the barrel number and in most cases the dates for the beginning and end of aging. Each barrel is believed to contribute unique characteristics to the finished whiskey.

Barton Brands, Ltd. was a company that produced a variety of distilled beverages and liqueurs and is now part of the Sazerac Company, which is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has its principal offices in Louisville, Kentucky. The Barton distillery, currently known as the Barton 1792 distillery, was originally established in 1879, and is located in Bardstown, Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve</span> Brand of bourbon whiskey

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve is the flagship brand of bourbon whiskey owned by the "Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery" company. It is distilled and bottled by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve is often regarded as one of the finest bourbons in the world, and its very low production and high demand can make it extremely difficult to find.

W. L. Weller is a brand of "wheated" bourbon whiskey. The brand was created by the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company, and was sold several times after 1972. Since 1999, the brand has been owned by the Sazerac Company. It is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Like all bourbons, Weller is distilled from a mash composed of at least 51% corn (maize). The secondary grain used for the Weller brand is wheat, whereas most bourbons use rye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Fitzgerald</span> Brand of wheated bourbon

Old Fitzgerald is a brand of wheated bourbon distilled in Louisville, Kentucky, by Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.

Firefly Distillery is a company located near Park Circle North Charleston, South Carolina, that produces a line of alcoholic beverages and licenses its brand name to the Sazerac Company for Firefly branded products produced elsewhere. Some Firefly branded products sold outside of South Carolina are actually produced in Kentucky by Sazerac rather than being produced by Firefly itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blanton's</span> Brand of bourbon whiskey

Blanton's is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced and marketed by the Sazerac Company. Though it does not own the brand, it has exclusive distilling rights. It is owned by Age International, Inc. It is distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McAfee's Benchmark</span> Brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

McAfee's Benchmark is a brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. The full name of the brand that appears on the bottle is "McAfee's Benchmark Old No. 8 Brand". The primary brand expression is an 80 U.S. proof bourbon aged "at least 36 months" according to its label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sazerac Company</span> Alcoholic drinks company based in New Orleans, US

Sazerac Company, Inc. is a privately held American alcoholic beverage company headquartered in Metairie in the metropolitan area of New Orleans, Louisiana, but with its principal office in Louisville, Kentucky. The company is owned by billionaire William Goldring and his family. As of 2017, it operated nine distilleries, had 2,000 employees, and operated in 112 countries. It is one of the two largest spirits companies in the United States, with annual revenue of about $1 billion made from selling about 300 beverage brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Taylor</span>

Old Taylor Bourbon is a brand of straight bourbon whiskey produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, Kentucky, by the Sazerac Company. It was named in honor of the historic distiller Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Rip Van Winkle</span> Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey

Old Rip Van Winkle Bourbon Whiskey is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. It is sold in 750ml glass bottles. The primary brand expression is aged 10 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stitzel–Weller Distillery</span>

Stitzel–Weller Distillery is a former distillery located in Shively, a suburb of Louisville, Kentucky. It was founded in 1935, sold in 1972, and closed in 1992. It produced a number of notable brands, and since 2014 it has served as a public tourism site for Bulleit Bourbon, as part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

References

  1. 1 2 "NPGallery Digital Asset Management System".
  2. 1 2 3 "The Buffalo Trace Distilling Company". ellenjaye.com. 2001. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2007.
  3. ↑ Lew Bryson. "Bourbon Company, Bourbon Man Buffalo Trace Distillery & Mark Brown". Malt Advocate. Malt Advocate, Inc. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2007.
  4. ↑ "BourbonEnthusiast.com • View topic - 1872 at the OFC Distillery". www.bourbonenthusiast.com. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Secretary Salazar, Director Jarvis Designate 13 New National Historic Landmarks". March 11, 2013. Archived from the original on December 11, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Official website
  7. ↑ Burks' Distillery Archived November 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , National Historic Landmarks, U.S. National Park Service.
  8. ↑ "Oldest operating bourbon distillery". Guinness World Records. April 3, 2001. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Oldest Operating Bourbon Whisky Distillery, Makers Mark, Loretto, Kentucky - Guinness World Records on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  10. ↑ Reigler, S (2013) Kentucky Bourbon Country: The Essential Travel Guide, University Press of Kentucky
  11. ↑ "SMWS Distillery Codes | Uisge Beatha". July 27, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  12. ↑ Klebe, J., E. (2015) The Kentucky Encyclopedia, University Press of Kentucky
  13. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form". National Park Service. March 13, 2001. p. 33. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Buffalo Trace Distillery Expands With $200M Investment". Stateways. May 23, 2016. Archived from the original on May 24, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Buffalo Trace Distillery unearths foundation from 1873 distillery" (PDF). Buffalo Trace Distillery. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Buffalo Trace NFTS raise $280,000 for charity". March 22, 2022. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Buffalo Trace". April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Great Bourbon". Buffalo Trace Distillery. Archived from the original on March 29, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Buffalo Trace distillery official website". Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Heritage – Old Rip Van Winkle". Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  21. ↑ Friedmann, Christopher (July 6, 2023). "Buffalo Trace's New Bourbon Made From Ancient Egyptian Grain". Men's Journal. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  22. ↑ Cowdery, Chuck (December 9, 2013). "The Chuck Cowdery Blog: It Was The Best Of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times". Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Official site for Old Rip Van Winkle". Archived from the original on January 15, 2011.

Bibliography

  • Taylor, Richard (2002). The Great Crossing: A Historic Journey to Buffalo Trace Distillery. Frankfort, KY: Buffalo Trace Distillery. ISBN   0971683719.
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