Buffalo Trace begins flood recovery
The Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, was impacted by flooding last week, with the site closed to visitors until further notice.
The Buffalo Trace Distillery team has begun inspecting barrels and assessing the damage caused by floods last week. On 11 April, the distillery said flood waters had completely receded, allowing leadership and a team of engineers to begin clean-up and recovery efforts. The extent of any damage suffered is still being determined.
“I am grateful for the excellent preparation work that our teams completed in advance of the flood, which mitigated the extent of the damage we might otherwise have sustained,” said Sazerac CEO and president Jake Wenz. “Similarly, based on previous floods, our full-scale recovery plan is under way. We are confident we will be back up and running shortly.”
The distillery expects to greatly modify its retail experience, with only select team members and recovery experts permitted on-site. Wenz says he expects the site to resume bottling sometime this week.
The team began inspecting barrels on 10 April. Buffalo Trace says it has successfully recovered any barrels that might have been affected by flood waters. Inspection is expected to take several weeks, however, any barrel loss is expected to be marginal.
Clean-up has also started inside the visitor centre, which experienced flooding on the first floor and will require repair. The centre will open in a modified capacity as soon as possible.
Wenz added: “We know it is disappointing to have the distillery closed, and it is our top priority to welcome guests again as soon as possible. Recovery and clean-up teams at Buffalo Trace Distillery will continue to work diligently to prepare the grounds for reopening and the facility for operation.
“We also want to again say a heartfelt thanks to our team who have been tireless in their support, and the Franklin County community as well as our fans and vendor partners for their support and understanding during this time. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.”
Buffalo Trace will share further recovery details as well as information about forthcoming relief initiatives within the community.
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