Kentucky flood forces Buffalo Trace Distillery to temporarily close
[April 08, 2025]
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI and KRISTIN M. HALL
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The historic Buffalo Trace Distillery has
temporarily closed after deadly flooding ravaging Kentucky swept into
its facilities, forcing the popular bourbon company to turn away the
public and staff.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Frankfort, Kentucky-based
distillery said it would remain closed through April 10 but warned that
date could change.
“Due to the unprecedented and ongoing rain and flooding, we are not able
to advise on the impact to our total distillery footprint,” Buffalo
Trace said. “We will assess those realities in the coming days as the
facilities become safe to navigate and will make necessary adjustments
to operations as required.”
It was not immediately known how much of Buffalo Trace's inventory —
ranging from barrels, bottles or other items — may have been damaged. A
spokesperson for Buffalo Trace declined to comment further.
Days of unrelenting torrential rain in Kentucky and across the U.S.
South and Midwest have caused catastrophic flooding and raised fears the
damage could linger for days as rivers swell. In Frankfort, the Kentucky
River curves throughout the capital city and has been known to flood.
On Monday, the river was cresting at Frankfort Lock — approaching the
record of 48 1/2 feet (14.78 meters) set on Dec. 10, 1978, according to
CJ Padgett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's
Louisville, Kentucky, office.
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In an aerial view, a bourbon barrel floats on the floodwaters of the
Buffalo Trace Distillery on Monday, April 7, 2025, in Frankfort, Ky.
(AP Photo/Jon Cherry)
Buffalo Trace is far from the only distillery in Kentucky, the home
of bourbon country, but it is one of the closest to the banks of the
Kentucky River. Notably, the distillery has markers of several
high-water marks from previous floods inside its Frankfort
buildings, with the most recent being the 1978 flood.
As of Monday, several Buffalo Trace buildings were flooded at lower
levels and parking lots and cars were underwater. The water tower
bearing the brand’s logo stood over the visitor center and
warehouses that appeared to be inundated with water. Residents
stopped to take pictures of the well-known bourbon maker’s property
as it was flooded out. Traffic signs directing trucks and visitors
to parking peeked over several feet of rushing water.
Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American, family-owned company that
has operated for more than 200 years. Its products include the holy
grail for bourbon fanatics: Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old, which can
sell for tens of thousands of dollars on resale markets.
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Kruesi reported from Nashville, Tennessee.
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