BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY Announces New “Dining Destination” Slated for 2023

Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery Aerial View

Could waking up and smelling the Pappy (mashbill) be on the near horizon for the hospitality experience at Buffalo Trace Distillery?

Today, the world renown Bourbon maker teed up some big things that are in the works, definitely an onsite restaurant experience which by itself would be a huge game changer. But could that also include an on property heads-in-beds component?

Time will tell, but wouldn’t that be just the ultimate icing on the cake – adding that crucial experiential growth realm to the overall Bourbon Country experience and the overall lifestyle destination vibe in The Bourbon State.

In terms of what makes a distillery experience special, BTD is already crushing it. Their whiskey portfolio is safely categorized in the “off the charts” high demand, the site itself has 200+years of distillery history to boast, the town itself (Frankfort) is strategically located dead on between Lexington and Louisville, it’s less than 3 miles from Distillery to the Kentucky State Capitol Building…and they have the best dang guide/ambassador in the biz – Freddie “Daddy’O” Johnson.

Adding a “dining destination” as referenced in the Press Release below would (will) be bonkers awesome. That is coming. This would leave only a hotel component for the imagination and the remaining experiential frontier for BTD to conquer.

Below is the Press Release from BTD noting a “new local tourism and dining destination”. It will be quite exciting to see what lies ahead for the elite American Whiskey maker.

RELATED: $1.2 Billion On Going Expansion at Buffalo Trace Distillery

PRESS RELEASE

(FRANKFORT, KY) Buffalo Trace Distillery today announced plans to introduce an exciting new local tourism and dining destination at the distillery near downtown Frankfort. An existing building that currently operates as a gas station will be converted to support the venue. The new destination is expected to open in 2023.

“At Buffalo Trace Distillery we are always looking for ways to engage and inspire our visitors and residents of our local community alike,” said Sara Saunders, Vice President Buffalo Trace Distillery. “As we look to the future, we’re committed to honoring the traditions of our 234-year history while also embracing change as we aim to invite even more whiskey lovers into our family. This exciting project does just that, and we are thrilled to be adding another quality dining and tourism destination for both Franklin County residents as well as the 400,000+ guests from around the world who visit our distillery each year.”

It is anticipated that the new destination will inject significant revenue into the local community, paving the way for the creation of new local jobs and serving as a strong tie-in to the downtown Frankfort redevelopment master plan.

“Our commonwealth’s world-famous bourbon industry is a vital component of our thriving agriculture ecosystem,” said Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles. “We are thrilled to see the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery continue to expand through this exciting project that will showcase Kentucky Proud food and beverages to an even wider audience in the years to come.”

Buffalo Trace Distillery Rickhouse
BTD Rickhouse

While specific plans are still being finalized, the destination will be constructed at the Fair Oaks Lane entrance to the distillery on the site of the existing BP gas station and convenience store, a property Buffalo Trace Distillery currently owns. Operations at the gas station will end in August 2022 with plans to break ground on the new venue to follow shortly thereafter.

“As a longtime Franklin County resident and business owner, I am thrilled to see our neighbor, Buffalo Trace Distillery, continuing to pour resources and new opportunity back into our growing community,” said Marc Stone, President of Stonebridge Hospitality, the area’s largest hotelier. “This new experience, available to visitors from across the globe who come right here to Franklin County, will encourage guests to spend more time here, a benefit to every local business.”

Company officials anticipate that groundbreaking for the new tourism and dining destination will take place in fall of this year, with a grand opening target of summer 2023.

Full details about Buffalo Trace Distillery’s catalogue of signature products and distinctive visitor experiences are available at BuffaloTraceDistillery.com.