Buffalo Trace Distillery resumes distribution today, bottling tomorrow

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Hundreds of people are working all hours of the day at Buffalo Trace Distillery to clean mud-filled buildings and prepare for production to ramp back up.

Master distiller Harlen Wheatley announcing that they have resumed shipping today and expect to resume bottling tomorrow.

“Our distribution and main bottling center did not take on flood waters and, thus, distribution began today,” he said. “We actually shipped out this morning.”

Not all buildings were unaffected, though.

“The total extent of the damage is still being determined, but so far includes many of our buildings on campus,” Wheatley said. “We know how many people love visiting Buffalo Trace Distillery, and we are focused on restoring the visitor experience.”

He says they’re also focused on inspecting the barrels. He says the inspection process is expected to take several weeks, but they’re not anticipating any meaningful loss of their inventory.

“Based on historical knowledge from previous floods, Buffalo Trace has been successful in recovering barrels affected by flood waters and we are confident in our process,” he said.

Buffalo Trace does not have a set date for when they expect to be back open to the public. It’s currently working on a modified retail experience for visitors as they clean the rest of the property.

“As someone who calls Frankfort home, I’m saddened to see the damage throughout the county and the region,” Wheatley said. “Our hearts remain with the rest of the community that also has been impacted by this devastation.”