Buffalo Trace Distillery partially reopens after flood
A week after flood waters reached their peak, Buffalo Trace Distillery has cleared most debris and reopened to visitors in a modified capacity.
Kentucky-based Buffalo Trace Distillery is returning to some signs of normalcy after flooding caused it and others in the Frankfort area to close last week.
The distillery reports that thanks to cleanup and restoration efforts of hundreds of professionals, removal of flood water debris and damage is more than 75% complete.
With power restored, craft bottling inside Blanton’s Bottling Hall and the main bottling hall operations have resumed.
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of our contractors and dedicated teams, we’ve made tremendous progress in the distillery’s flood recovery plan,” Sazerac CEO and president Jake Wenz said.
“Each day significant progress is made allowing the distillery to return to normal operations and I am optimistic that, with this same spirit, we’ll be operating normally soon. We want to thank all of the contractors, our leaders, and our team members for their hard work”
Beginning Monday 14 April, the distillery reopened to visitors with a limited retail experience. This included a small pop-up shopping experience inside the Freehouse building with opportunities to purchase select bottled and complimentary tastings in an outdoor canopy neighbouring the building.
The distillery is offering this modified experience to those who previously held tour reservations, and those who are eligible to attend will receive an email with instructions on how to book.
Additional online reservations will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, if capacity allows, while no tours or walk-ups can currently be accommodated.
“We know our fans are eager to visit so we’re making every effort to return to normal tour and gift shop operations,” the distillery said in a statement issued Tuesday (15 April). “Because we have limited capacity, unlike normal operations, reservations are required to attend the modified experience.”
Buffalo Trace will continue to share details on forthcoming relief initiatives, and directs immediate donations to the Franklin Country Flood Relief Fund.
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