Buffalo Trace Distillery
Encyclopedia
Buffalo Trace Distillery is a distillery located in Frankfort, Kentucky
. It has historically been known by several names, including most notably, the George T. Stagg Distillery and the O.F.C. Distillery. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey
, was introduced in August 1999. The Buffalo Trace Distillery stands as the oldest (not necessarily continuously-operating) distilling site in the United States. Located on what the company claims was once an ancient buffalo
crossing on the banks of the Kentucky River
in Franklin County
, the distillery is named after the American bison
that created paths followed by America's early pioneers
. The Sazerac Company
, a New Orleans, Louisiana
-based producer and importer purchased the distillery in 1992 and is now the parent company of Buffalo Trace Distillery.
The distillery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
under its old name, George T. Stagg Distillery.
The Buffalo Trace Distillery is home to the world's smallest bonded
storage warehouse, Warehouse V. This warehouse only stores a single barrel of whiskey at a time.
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.
In 1972 Gary Gayheart became the master distiller. After his retirement in 2005, he was succeeded by Harlen Wheatley.
In 2009 and 2010, the Buffalo Trace Oral History Project was conducted by the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History
, University of Kentucky Libraries.
. "Buffalo Trace" is a bourbon brand made by the Distillery. It was introduced in August 1999, two months after the distillery changed its name from the George T. Stagg
Distillery. Buffalo Trace is made from corn, rye, and barley malt, and aged in charred oak barrels. Approximately 25–30 barrels are selected and mixed before bottling. It has won some awards since its introduction.
The following spirits are produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery:
Some bourbons produced at the distillery have performed well in international spirit ratings
competitions. Buffalo Trace bourbon received a Double Gold Rating at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2009. Eagle Rare received a Gold medal in the 2010 competition Van Winkle The 12 Year Old Special Reserve was recognized with the "Trophy for Worldwide Whisky" and a Best-In-Class Gold Medallion in the International Wine and Spirit Competition for 2008.
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
. It has historically been known by several names, including most notably, the George T. Stagg Distillery and the O.F.C. Distillery. Its namesake bourbon brand, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
, was introduced in August 1999. The Buffalo Trace Distillery stands as the oldest (not necessarily continuously-operating) distilling site in the United States. Located on what the company claims was once an ancient buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
crossing on the banks of the Kentucky River
Kentucky River
The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, long, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The river and its tributaries drain much of the central region of the state, with its upper course passing through the coal-mining regions of the Cumberland Mountains, and its lower course passing through the...
in Franklin County
Franklin County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,687 people, 19,907 households, and 12,840 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 21,409 housing units at an average density of...
, the distillery is named after the American bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
that created paths followed by America's early pioneers
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
. The Sazerac Company
Sazerac Company
The Sazerac Company is a large privately held and family-operated alcoholic beverages company with headquarters in Metairie, Louisiana.It owns and produces a large and diversified portfolio of beverage brands, and it owns and operates a number of distilling companies...
, a New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
-based producer and importer purchased the distillery in 1992 and is now the parent company of Buffalo Trace Distillery.
The distillery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
under its old name, George T. Stagg Distillery.
The Buffalo Trace Distillery is home to the world's smallest bonded
Bonded warehouse
A Bonded warehouse is a building or other secured area in which dutiable goods may be stored, manipulated, or undergo manufacturing operations without payment of duty. It may be managed by the state or by private enterprise. In the latter case a customs bond must be posted with the government...
storage warehouse, Warehouse V. This warehouse only stores a single barrel of whiskey at a time.
History
Records indicate that distilling started on the site that is now the Buffalo Trace Distillery sometime before 1773 by Hancock Lee, who died in 1776. The oldest building on the site, the Riverside house, was constructed in 1792 by Commodore Richard Taylor and is still standing today. The first true distillery was constructed in 1812 by Harrison Blanton. In 1870 the distillery was purchased by Edmund H. Taylor and given its first name, the O.F.C. Distillery. Taylor sold the distillery eight years later to George T. StaggGeorge T. Stagg
George T. Stagg is a limited-production bourbon whiskey distributed by Buffalo Trace Distillery, as part of the distillery's "Antique Collection " series. It is a high proof uncut and unfiltered bourbon, aged for approximately 15 years....
along with the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery
Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve is a brand of premium small batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation. It is distilled at the company's Woodford Reserve Distillery, and marketed under the former company name for the distillery, Labrot & Graham. The distillery is located in...
. This second distillery was sold within the year to James Graham
James Graham
-British noblemen:*James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose , Scottish nobleman and soldier*James Graham, 2nd Marquess of Montrose *James Graham, 3rd Marquess of Montrose...
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.
In 1972 Gary Gayheart became the master distiller. After his retirement in 2005, he was succeeded by Harlen Wheatley.
In 2009 and 2010, the Buffalo Trace Oral History Project was conducted by the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History
Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History
The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky actively collects oral history interviews concentrating on 20th and 21st century Kentucky history, and maintains a collection of over 8,000 interviews made up of over 100 projects. The Center's emphasis has been on political,...
, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Spirits
While Buffalo Trace Distillery is mainly known for its bourbon, it also produces other spirits such as rye whiskey and vodkaVodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
. "Buffalo Trace" is a bourbon brand made by the Distillery. It was introduced in August 1999, two months after the distillery changed its name from the George T. Stagg
George T. Stagg
George T. Stagg is a limited-production bourbon whiskey distributed by Buffalo Trace Distillery, as part of the distillery's "Antique Collection " series. It is a high proof uncut and unfiltered bourbon, aged for approximately 15 years....
Distillery. Buffalo Trace is made from corn, rye, and barley malt, and aged in charred oak barrels. Approximately 25–30 barrels are selected and mixed before bottling. It has won some awards since its introduction.
The following spirits are produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery:
| Label | Type of Spirit | Style Notes | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Age Ancient Age Ancient Age is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.- Current Expressions :* Ancient Age is a 36 month old bourbon, bottled at 80 proof... |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Ancient Age Distillery | |
| Blanton's Blanton's Blanton's is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced and marketed by the Sazerac Company. It is distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at Buffalo Trace Distillery.... |
Single Barrel Bourbon | Blanton Distilling | |
| Buffalo Trace | Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Buffalo Trace Distillery | |
| Eagle Rare Eagle Rare Eagle Rare is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled and distributed by the Buffalo Trace Distillery.-History:Eagle Rare was originally a 101-proof ten-year old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey from Seagram created by master distiller Charles L. Beam... |
Single Barrel Bourbon | Old Prentice Company | |
| Elmer T. Lee | Single Barrel Bourbon | Buffalo Trace Distillery | |
| George T. Stagg George T. Stagg George T. Stagg is a limited-production bourbon whiskey distributed by Buffalo Trace Distillery, as part of the distillery's "Antique Collection " series. It is a high proof uncut and unfiltered bourbon, aged for approximately 15 years.... |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Barrel proof | Buffalo Trace Distillery |
| Hancock's President's Reserve Hancock's President's Reserve Hancock's President's Reserve Bourbon Whiskey is a single barrel bourbon whiskey produced in Frankfort, Kentucky by the Sazerac Company. The brand is sold both as a straight bourbon.It is sold in glass in 750ml bottles.-External links:* *... |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Buffalo Trace Distillery | |
| Old Charter Old Charter Old Charter is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, which is part of the Sazerac Company.- Early History :... |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Old Charter Distillery | |
| McAfee's Benchmark McAfee's Benchmark McAfee's Benchmark is a brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. It is an 80 proof bourbon with no age statement.- History :... |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon | ||
| Rock Hill Farms | Single Barrel Bourbon | Rock Hill Farms | |
| Van Winkle Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve is the flagship brand of bourbon whiskey owned by the “Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery” company , and is distilled and bottled by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.-History:Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle, Sr... |
Wheated Bourbon | Old Rip Van Winkle | |
| W.L. Weller William Larue Weller W. L. Weller is a brand of wheated bourbon. The brand was originally owned by the Stitzel-Weller Distilling Company, which was sold several times after 1972. The brand is currently owned by the Sazerac Company and produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Like all bourbons... |
Wheated Bourbon | W. L. Weller and Sons | |
| Rain | Vodka | 100% organic white corn | Buffalo Trace Distillery |
| Sazerac Sazerac The Sazerac is a local New Orleans variation of an old-fashioned cognac or whiskey cocktail, named for the Sazerac de Forge et Fils brand of cognac that was its original prime ingredient. The drink is some combination of cognac, rye whiskey, absinthe or Herbsaint, and Peychaud's Bitters and... |
Rye Whiskey | Buffalo Trace Distillery | |
| Thomas H. Handy | Rye Whiskey | Barrel proof | Buffalo Trace Distillery |
Some bourbons produced at the distillery have performed well in international spirit ratings
Spirit ratings
With a growing number of microdistilleries and an expanding number of offerings from large corporate entities, a number of institutions have arisen to provide professional evaluations of individual spirits...
competitions. Buffalo Trace bourbon received a Double Gold Rating at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2009. Eagle Rare received a Gold medal in the 2010 competition Van Winkle The 12 Year Old Special Reserve was recognized with the "Trophy for Worldwide Whisky" and a Best-In-Class Gold Medallion in the International Wine and Spirit Competition for 2008.