Buffalo Trace

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

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. The first distillery was constructed in 1812 by Harrison Blanton. In 1870 the distillery was purchased by Edmund H. Taylor Jr. and given its first name, the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery. Taylor sold the distillery eight years later to George T. Stagg along with the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery. In 1886, Stagg installed steam heating in the storage warehouses, the first climate controlled warehouse for aging whiskey in the nation. During Prohibition, the distillery was allowed to remain operational, in order to make whiskey for "medicinal purposes". Gary Gayheart became the master distiller in 1985, until his retirement in 2005. He was succeeded by Harlen Wheatley.

Reader's Guide

Buffalo Trace Distillery holds a significant place in American whiskey history due to its long operational history and its role in producing a wide range of bourbon and rye brands. The distillery's namesake bourbon, introduced in August 1999, has become a widely recognized brand. The property, under the George T. Stagg Distillery name, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 2001, and designated a National Historic Landmark on March 11, 2013. In 2016, the distillery announced plans to expand operations with a capital investment of $200 million. During renovations in October 2016, 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 site is now open for visitors to Buffalo Trace. 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. In early April 2025, following days of heavy rainfall exceeding 15 inches in some areas, the Kentucky River in Frankfort rose to 48.24 feet, the second highest level in Buffalo Trace Distillery's 200-year history. Significant portions of the distillery campus were submerged, prompting damage assessments and a multi-phase recovery effort. Visitor access was suspended, and a scheduled Easter event was canceled.

Did You Know?

• The name "Buffalo Trace" refers to the ancient buffalo trackway that crosses the Kentucky River in Franklin County, Kentucky.
• In 1886, George T. Stagg installed steam heating in the storage warehouses, the first climate controlled warehouse for aging whiskey in the nation.
• During Prohibition, the distillery was allowed to remain operational to make whiskey for "medicinal purposes".
• In October 2016, 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.
• In March 2022, six-litre OFC Vintage Bourbon Whiskeys distilled in 1982 were sold with NFTs on Blockbar, with the highest bid of $60,000.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

Some people mistakenly believe Buffalo Trace bourbon or the distillery itself dates back to the 18th or early 19th century. In fact, the Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey brand was introduced in August 1999, and while distilling on the site began in 1775, the first distillery was constructed in 1812. Another common misconception is that Edmund H. Taylor Jr. founded the distillery; however, he purchased it in 1870 and gave it its first name, the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery, but the site had already been used for distilling for decades.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

Buffalo Trace Distillery matters not only for producing a beloved bourbon brand but as a living chronicle of American distilling, with records of spirits being made on its grounds since before the United States was a nation. Its endurance through Prohibition—when it was permitted to operate for "medicinal purposes"—and its recognition as a National Historic Landmark show how deeply tied this distillery is to both the heritage and the resilience of Kentucky's bourbon industry.