Buffalo Trace Distillery café confirms opening date
Frankfort-based Buffalo Trace Distillery will officially open its first permanent dining destination, the John G Carlisle Café, on 11 May.
The café will be situated in the historic Elmer T Lee Clubhouse, which opened in 1935, and will offer guests the chance to gather and enjoy meals in a space integral to the distillery for more than 90 years.
It is set to open just over a year after the distillery was affected by historic flood waters last April, serving as a symbol of Buffalo Trace’s resilience and its enduring spirit of hospitality.
The new initiative will primarily focus on lunchtime service. The café spans 4,900 square feet, which can accommodate 70 guests with additional seating available on the patio.
The menu will feature made-to-order sandwiches, salads and desserts, along with Kentucky classics like the Kentucky Hot Brown.
Select menu items will incorporate flavours infused with Buffalo Trace whiskeys, such as Bourbon bacon, barrel-aged coffee, and Bourbon-infused fudge topping with whipped cream.
Additionally, the John G Carlisle Café will offer a rotating selection of cocktails featuring the distillery’s spirits, including the Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned, Wheatley Vodka Peach Mule, and Traveller Whiskey Lucky Penny.
Tyler Adams, general manager of Buffalo Trace Distillery, said: “For years, guests have asked for a dedicated place to enjoy a meal while spending the day with us.
“The John G Carlisle Café is a meaningful addition to the distillery experience, opening this historic space to the public for the first time and inviting visitors to slow down, settle in, and fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere that makes Buffalo Trace so special.”
In keeping with the distillery’s motto, ‘Honour Tradition, Embrace Change’, the café will showcase historic artefacts that have shaped the distillery’s 200-year-plus history.
On display will be the only known bottle of Carlisle Whiskey, preserved in the distillery’s archives, along with rare photographs of the original Carlisle Distillery and images of employees using the clubhouse from the 1950s.
To celebrate the opening of the John G Carlisle Café, the distillery will host a special three-week lineup of daily events throughout May.
Highlights will include ‘Meet the Masters’ meet-and-greet events featuring master distiller Harlen Wheatley on 14 May and master blender Drew Mayville on 28 May.
The café will be open daily from 11 May, Monday to Sunday, from 11am to 3pm.
“As we introduce the John G Carlisle Café, our team is committed to delivering a terrific experience,” Adams added. “We encourage guests to plan extra time for their next visit and thank them for their patience as we welcome visitors into the space for the first time.”
Last week, Buffalo Trace unveiled its oldest Bourbon release to date: Eagle Rare 30.
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