UPDATE: April 9 at 5 p.m.
As water levels in Frankfort have begun to recede, Buffalo Trace released an update regarding cleanup and recovery for the historic distillery.
"Though Buffalo Trace is still determining the final scale of total site infrastructure impact, early assessments indicate the damages are substantial and recovery efforts will be ongoing for some time," the release said.
According to the release, Buffalo Trace will remain closed through at least Friday, April 11, and this weekend's "Easter at the Trace Easter Egg Hunt" has been canceled. The distillery aims to reopen as soon as possible in a "modified capacity."
Although roadways opened earlier today, only select team members and approved personnel are currently allowed on site.
"In the coming weeks Buffalo Trace looks forward to sharing details on forthcoming relief initiatives to further support the community," the release said. "Should you want to support relief efforts in the immediate, the Franklin County Flood Relief Fundhas been set up by the city to collect donations and offer aid to those who need it most."
The latest updates can be found on the distillery's Instagram.
UPDATE: April 8 at 2:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Buffalo Trace Distillery provided an update regarding the temporary closure of the facility due to heavy rainfall that resulted in major flooding in the area.
“Because Buffalo Trace Distillery has survived in its location on the Kentucky River for over 200 years, we have, unfortunately, experience in flood management and recovery. We initiated a preparation flood plan ahead of the surge. We were able to implement that plan late last week and are hopeful in doing so we will have mediated at least some of the damage. That said, we do expect the impact to be extensive and the recovery efforts to be significant and ongoing for some time,” said Jake Wenz, Sazerac & Buffalo Trace Distillery CEO and President.
Officials noted that the distillery is expected to be closed through Thursday while they work to assess the damage caused by high flood levels at the facility.
“Our hearts are with the rest of the community that has also been impacted by this devastation. Buffalo Trace Distillery will support relief efforts in the coming weeks to help Frankfort residents through this difficult time,” said Wenz. “We also want to say a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated team members, consumers, city and county officials, and vendor partners who have offered an incredible amount of support during this time. And finally, please accept our regrets to our fans that planned visits to the Distillery this week.”
Officials will release additional information and updates on the distillery's Instagram.
Original Story:
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.
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.
