FRANKFORT, Ky. — Buffalo Trace Distillery says its whiskey production will be at an all-time high now that a new still has been officially commissioned by the company. The new still stands 40 feet tall and can produce 60,000 gallons a day. It is a duplicate of Buffalo Trace’s existing still, allowing the distillery to double its production.

What You Need To Know

  • The new still stands 40 feet tall and can produce 60,000 gallons a day

  •  It is a duplicate of Buffalo Trace’s existing still, allowing the distillery to double its production

  • Bourbon afficionados will be able to see the new stillhouse up close when they take Buffalo Trace’s new “Hard Hat tour,” with an expanded new tour route and new sites

  • The Buffalo Trace expansion is another piece to the much larger bourbon boom thundering throughout the state

“We are really looking forward to starting up our new still so we can make more bourbon whiskey for our fans,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller. “The new stillhouse is adjacent to the existing stillhouse.  We put a lot of work into matching our existing still to ensure the whiskey we produce remains consistent. We will be in full production, with both stills, in the coming days.” 

Bourbon afficionados will be able to see the new stillhouse up close when they take Buffalo Trace’s new “Hard Hat tour,” with an expanded new tour route and new sites. Buffalo Trace boasts the Hard Hat tour as a must-see for visitors to the distillery, but the feature has been unavailable since 2019 due to ongoing construction.

The new still is part of a broader $1.2 billion expansion, including new cookers, fermenters and a new dry house, which can produce 12,000 pounds of dried grain per hour.

“We are so excited to welcome new and repeat guests to come see our new stillhouse and experience our new tour offerings,” said Tyler Adams, general manager. “The major expansion projects are now complete, so we have lots of new areas visitors can see on both our Hard Hat Tour and our expanded Trace Tour. Plus, we’re really looking forward to having more bourbon for our thirsty fans in a few years, now that we’re doubling production.”

The Buffalo Trace expansion is another piece to the much larger bourbon boom thundering throughout the state. According to Gov. Andy Beshear, the bourbon industry invested over $2.1 billion in the state last year alone, with distillers expanding their facilities and upgrading older equipment.

Buffalo Trace Distillery is based in Frankfort, Ky., and traces its history back to 1775. 

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