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There isn’t a single whiskey distillery in the United States surrounded by more hype than Buffalo Trace, which has repeatedly had to grapple with the fallout of its proximity to the Kentucky River. It’s been forced to temporarily close its doors after Mother Nature once again reared her ugly head, and it’s easy to understand why when you look at the footage that’s emerged.
Buffalo Trace has a history stretching back to the turn of the 17th century, and the distillery that sits on the Kentucky River in the capital city of Frankfort is one of the oldest continually operating whiskey producers in the United States.
The operation changed hands a number of times in the 1800s during an era where production was overseen by former owners including Harrison Blanton, E.H. Taylor, and George T. Stagg—names most bourbon drinkers are very familiar with thanks to the wildly sought-after bottles of bourbon emblazoned with their names that are produced by the distillery that’s been known as “Buffalo Trace” since 1999.
The brand’s flagship bourbon used to be one of the best bottles you could snag for the price before Buffalo Trace became one of the most notable beneficiaries of the whiskey boom that saw the industry explode around 15 years ago.
The excitement has started to die down a bit, its hallowed grounds are still a must-visit attraction for anyone making their way across the Bourbon Trail (although it’s worth noting Buffalo Trace—which is now owned by Sazerac—is not an “official” member of the program overseen by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association).
It’s hard for any business to exist for more than 200 years without encountering some setbacks, and Buffalo Trace is certainly not an exception. The distillery has been forced to grapple with fires, tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters—including the mudslide that transpired in February and swept an makeshift office into the Kentucky River.
Things recently took yet another turn for the worse over the weekend due to the storms that spawned historic levels of flooding in Kentucky, and on Sunday, the distillery issued a statement where it announced it will be closed until Thursday (and possibly longer) due to the rising waters that made its facility largely inaccessible.
This is a look at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, which is currently under water as the Kentucky River heads toward record levels.
Video credit: Chris Larrison
More on the flooding on the Kentucky River: https://t.co/QUViqOZH8Z pic.twitter.com/5NO266kBvR
— WCPO 9 (@WCPO) April 7, 2025
As things currently stand, employees at Buffalo Trace have been unable to widely evaluate the damage, but it goes without saying that the potential loss of whiskey is the ultimate afterthought when you consider the floodwaters have claimed the lives of at least two people in Kentucky.
Here’s to hoping everyone who’s been impacted will be able to bounce back as quickly as possible.