Buffalo Trace will be donating 400 bottles from its 6 millionth barrel to charities across the country in hopes to raise $500,000 for worthy causes.
Last year, Buffalo Trace barreled their 7 millionth barrel of whiskey since Prohibition. They house milestone barrels like this in the world’s tiniest rick house, built to hold just one barrel at a time. When the 7 millionth barrel was rolled off the line in April of 2018, the 6 millionth barrel was removed to age another year in a larger warehouse.
Finally, after a total of 10 years and 11 months of aging, the barrel was bottled this year, filling four hundred 375ml glass bottles. Each bottle has a handwritten description on it and comes packaged in a hardwood box including a piece of stave from the 6 millionth barrel and brochure explaining the significance of this historic barrel.
Doing the math, each bottle is expected to raise around $1,250 – but this isn’t the first time Buffalo Trace has donated highly sought-after bottlings for a good cause. Their first ever O.F.C. bottles raised over $1,000,000, and bottles from their Millennium barrel (barreled on December 31st, 1999) raised over $150,000.
“We’re thrilled to be able to do something with the bottles to help those in need,” said Kris Comstock, Buffalo Trace senior marketing director, in a press release this morning. “We decided on the 375ml size bottles, rather than a larger size, to allow for more bottles so we can help more charities. We really hope whiskey enthusiasts will help some deserving non-profit groups raise serious money. These bottles are beautiful, the package is first class, and the bourbon tastes amazing. Our goal is to raise $500,000 for charity!”
You won’t be able to buy these bottles in stores, but if you run a charitable organization that has a U.S. non-profit tax ID number, you’re invited to apply for a bottle at 6millionthbarrel.com. The deadline for applications is July 1st, 2019. Those deemed to have the most worthy causes will be notified in early July, and their bottles will ship free of charge in August 2019. Bottles must be auctioned by the end of the calendar year, so keep your eyes peeled this fall to see if one is coming to an auction block near you.
