Buffalo Trace shares opening date for London store

Sazerac-owned Buffalo Trace Distillery will be opening its new brand home in London on 6 May.

The store, located in Covent Garden, is the distillery’s first brand home outside of the US.

Buffalo Trace CEO and president Jake Wenz said: “Opening Buffalo Trace Distillery London is a momentous occasion for our distillery and we are thrilled to bring our experience to the United Kingdom.

“We’ll offer a space for spirits novices and lovers to learn more about a whiskey type they are perhaps less familiar with – Bourbon.

“Our aim is to inspire visitors to broaden their palates, and perhaps their cocktails, and we’re hopeful after learning about Bourbon and tasting it, they will add it to their drink list.”

Visitors can already pre-book tickets to two different tasting experiences on the brand’s UK website, which take place from the store’s two on-site bars.

Tasting one, named ‘Taste of the Trace’, is a guided tasting of the brand’s core products; Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Sazerac Rye and Bourbon Cream, with the option to add a Buffalo and Ginger Ale cocktail.

The second, ‘Tradition & Change: Crafting the Most Awarded American Whiskey’, is described as a more intimate experience that features the brand’s premium expressions such as White Dog Mash #1, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare 10-Year-Old, EH Taylor Small Batch, and a small pour of a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned.

The store itself is 2,000 square feet in size with a design that pays homage to the distillery’s craftsmanship.

Additionally, on the retail side, visitors can purchase from the brand’s portfolio of whiskeys, exclusive merchandise and some rarer bottlings that the brand said will be offered during the first months of opening.

In the lead up to Christmas last year, the distillery opened a pop-up in the same space at 32-33 Long Acre.

Global brand director Andrew Duncan added: “In the heart of ‘Bourbon country’, USA, Buffalo Trace Distillery has been dedicated to the craft of making the finest American whiskey for over 200 years.

“Our deep commitment to the timeless craft of ageing and distilling, alongside a keen focus on experimentation and innovation, has enabled Buffalo Trace to become the world’s most award-winning distillery, earning the loyalty of fans around the globe.

“Our London location brings the same genuine and authentic experience fans love about our flagship home in Kentucky to a new generation of spirits enthusiasts, allowing them to discover all that the distillery’s award-winning brands have to offer.”

From 6 May, the store will open to visitors from Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm, and on Sundays from 12-6pm.