Buffalo Trace builds new warehouse for whiskey experiments

Renowned distillery Buffalo Trace is building an experimental barrel warehouse on its Kentucky site to aid its search for “The Holy Grail of bourbon”.

Warehouse X will enhance Buffalo Trace’s experimental whiskey research

The 150-barrel capacity Warehouse X, which will be the first new building on the site for 60 years, marks the next step in the evolution of the whiskey distilling experiments that Buffalo Trace has become famous for.

The principle feature of the new construction, which should be completed by August 2013, will be the four independently operating chambers which will allow close control over specific variables in the ageing process.

While previous experiments carried out by the distillery have included the 133˚F steaming of barrel staves and the 10-year ageing of Bourbon in a Chardonnay barrel, the new chambers will initially be used to test the effect of varying light levels.

Future plans involve the manipulation of temperature, airflow and humidity and the warehouse will also feature an open-air rick allowing the exposure of a small number of barrels to the elements.

Master distiller Halen Wheatley said: “It’s no secret that we’re on the hunt to find the Holy Grail of Bourbon. By building this experimental warehouse, we’ll be able to keep a tight control on the variables that affect the barrel ageing process and can make changes along the way to the ageing environment that will hopefully allow us to one day come up with the perfect Bourbon.”

The results of the Warehouse X research will eventually be bottled under the Experimental Collection line, which has been offering the outcomes of Buffalo Trace’s experiments for sale since 2006. Previous products have included unlabelled barrels found on the site, rice Bourbon whiskey, Bourbon aged in heavily charred barrels and Bourbon aged in a giant, 135-gallon French-oak barrel.