Buffalo Trace
The oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States, home of Buffalo Trace bourbon.
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via Wikipedia: Buffalo Trace Distillery · see source
Where it is
Coordinates: 38°13′05″N 84°52′08″W (38.2180, -84.8690) · Open in OpenStreetMap
Coordinates and connected clubs: the infobox of Wikipedia: Buffalo Trace Distillery (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map: drawn by Codexery from OpenStreetMap tiles.
Buffalo Trace Distillery, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, is owned by the Sazerac Company and traces its origins to 1775, when Hancock Lee and his brother Willis Lee began distilling on the site. The first formal distillery was built in 1812 by Harrison Blanton. In 1870, Edmund H. Taylor Jr. purchased the property and named it the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery.
Eight years later, Taylor sold it to George T. Stagg, who also acquired the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery before selling that second site to James Graham to expand the O.F.C. property. Stagg introduced steam heating in the storage warehouses in 1886, creating the nation’s first climate-controlled aging facility. During Prohibition, the distillery remained open to produce whiskey for medicinal purposes. The Sazerac Company bought the distillery in 1992, and the namesake Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey brand was launched in August 1999.
The name honors the ancient buffalo trackway crossing the Kentucky River in Franklin County. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 as the George T. Stagg Distillery and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2013. The distillery claims to be the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States, though Burks’ Distillery (now used for Maker’s Mark) also traces its origins to 1805 and is listed in Guinness World Records as the oldest operating bourbon distillery.
Master distillers have included Gary Gayheart (1985–2005) and Harlen Wheatley. In 2016, a $200 million expansion was announced. That same year, workers uncovered the foundation of the original 1873 distillery building, which had burned in 1882, along with remnants of fermenters. The site is now open to visitors.
Buffalo Trace Flood 2025
In March 2022, the distillery created six-liter OFC Vintage Bourbon Whiskeys distilled in 1982, sold with NFTs on Blockbar for up to $60,000, as part of a charity initiative to raise $2 million. In April 2025, heavy rainfall caused the Kentucky River to crest at 48.24 feet, the second-highest level in the distillery’s history, submerging large portions of the campus and suspending visitor access. Production capacity is estimated at 2.65 million gallons of whiskey per year, using a beer still with a 60,000-gallon capacity.
Lore & Background
Records indicate that distilling started on the site in 1775 by Hancock Lee and his brother Willis Lee. The first distillery was constructed in 1812 by Harrison Blanton. In 1870 the distillery was purchased by Edmund H. Taylor Jr. and given its first name, the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery. Taylor sold the distillery eight years later to George T. Stagg.
During Prohibition, the distillery was allowed to remain operational to make whiskey for medicinal purposes. In 2016, workers discovered the foundation of the original 1873 distillery building, which burned down in 1882. In early April 2025, following heavy rainfall, the Kentucky River rose to 48.24 feet, submerging significant portions of the campus.
Common Misconceptions (Editorial)
Some people mistakenly believe Buffalo Trace bourbon or the distillery itself dates back to the 18th or early 19th century. In fact, the Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey brand was introduced in August 1999, and while distilling on the site began in 1775, the first distillery was constructed in 1812. Another common misconception is that Edmund H. Taylor Jr. founded the distillery; however, he purchased it in 1870 and gave it its first name, the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery, but the site had already been used for distilling for decades.
Why It Matters (Editorial)
Buffalo Trace Distillery matters not only for producing a beloved bourbon brand but as a living chronicle of American distilling, with records of spirits being made on its grounds since before the United States was a nation. Its endurance through Prohibition—when it was permitted to operate for "medicinal purposes"—and its recognition as a National Historic Landmark show how deeply tied this distillery is to both the heritage and the resilience of Kentucky's bourbon industry.
Reader's Guide
Buffalo Trace Distillery produces a range of spirits including bourbon, rye whiskey, and vodka. Self-produced brands include Buffalo Trace straight bourbon, Col. E. H. Taylor, Eagle Rare, George T. Stagg, Stagg Jr., McAfee's Benchmark, O.F.C., Old Charter, Old Taylor, Peychaud's Bitters, Platinum 7X/Platinum 10X vodka, Sazerac straight rye, Thomas H. Handy, Traveller blended whisky, W. L. Weller, Wheatley vodka, and Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat. Brands produced in partnership with Age International include Ancient Age, Blanton's single-barrel, Hancock's President's Reserve, Elmer T. Lee, and Rock Hill Farms. Brands produced in partnership with the Van Winkle family include Old Rip Van Winkle, Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve, Van Winkle Special Reserve, and Van Winkle Family Reserve rye.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Buffalo Trace Distillery located?
The property sits in Frankfort, Kentucky, in the middle of the state's traditional bourbon country. Distilling on that specific site dates back to 1775, and the first purpose-built distillery structure was raised there in 1812.
Who owns Buffalo Trace?
The Sazerac Company has held the distillery since 1992 and oversees all of its bourbon, rye, and vodka production. Under Sazerac's ownership, the brand has become a central pillar of the company's American spirits portfolio.
Is Buffalo Trace really the oldest distillery in the U.S.?
The distillery claims that title by tracing on-site distilling back to 1775. However, Burks' distillery—now the home of Maker's Mark—also traces its roots to 1805 and holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously operating bourbon distillery, so the claim is debated among enthusiasts.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Buffalo Trace Distillery (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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