Last week, Buffalo Trace announced a milestone for the distillery: They filled the 8 millionth barrel of bourbon since prohibition. Four years ago we reported on the 7 millionth barrel that was filled, whereas before it took 12 years to reach the million step – so production is currently in full swing.
Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley reports: “Over the past few years, we’ve doubled our fermenters, added more grain cookers and more barrel warehouses, all in an effort to make more bourbon. We’ve filled a record number of barrels every year, as evidenced by how fast we moved from the seventh millionth barrel to the eighth millionth barrel. Now that we have our new still house starting up, we’ll be able to double the output of our whiskey production, so we’re going to be reaching 9 million barrels before you know it!”
Anniversary celebration with guests of honour
Andy Beshear, Kentucky Governor said at the anniversary celebration: “I am thrilled to celebrate this incredible milestone with Buffalo Trace Distillery. This company has more than 200 years of history in our state, providing quality jobs for Kentuckians and producing our world-famous bourbon. Thank you to the leaders at Buffalo Trace for their continued commitment to the commonwealth and our people. Here’s to 200 more years of success in our state.”
A family affair
The jubilee cask was rolled into Warehouse V at the ceremony by Freddie Johnson. Freddie’s family has worked at the distillery for three generations. He was supported in barrel rolling not only by Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer of Buffalo Trace Distillery, but also by his grandson, who thus laid his hand on the Buffallo Trace whiskey as the fourth Johnson generation. Buffalo Trace is proud that many of their employees have bee working there not only for years but for decades. And in many families working at the distillery is passed through generations.
The 7 millionth barrel that was rolled into the warehouse in April 2018 was meanwhile removed from the small Warehouse V and transferred to a larger warehouse. In a few years, this Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey will then be bottled and sold for charity.
Source: Buffalo Trace Distillery