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    HomeIndustry NewsCleanup Underway at Buffalo Trace Distillery Following Severe Flooding

    Cleanup Underway at Buffalo Trace Distillery Following Severe Flooding

    Industry News

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    Credit: Buffalo Trace.

    Buffalo Trace Flooding Cleanup, Distillery faced disaster in recent days after non-stop rain caused the river to burst its banks. According to Kentucky.com, Buffalo Trace Distiller Harlen Wheatley called the flood “one of the most severe that we’ve seen.”

    Luckily, the Kentucky River returned to normal levels, so Buffalo Trace Distillery began recovery efforts at its historic Frankfort campus. Flood waters have completely receded, enabling distillery teams to access all areas for cleanup and assessment.
    “I’m grateful our teams prepared before the flood, reducing damage we might have faced,” said Jake Wenz, CEO. “As of this morning we started shipping our finished goods again and we expect to resume bottling sometime next week.”

    Wenz emphasized that restoration of the National Historic Landmark remains their top priority to ensure a quick return to production and tourism operations.

    Barrel Assessment Process Underway

    Teams began inspecting potentially affected whiskey barrels Thursday, April 10 and will continue until all are thoroughly assessed. The process involves both visual barrel inspection and quality testing protocols teams use for all Buffalo Trace products.
    “Our team puts heart into every product, rigorously testing barrels affected by flood waters,” said Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller.  “We have never, nor will we ever, compromise on the quality or safety of the whiskey we make.”

    Based on past floods, officials are confident in recovery, expecting no major barrel losses, though inspections will take weeks.

    Visitor Operations Temporarily Modified

    Floodwaters inundated the Buffalo Trace Visitor Center’s first floor, and teams needed repairs before fully reopening. According to a brand press release, the distillery planned to keep the visitor center closed until April 13th at the earliest. Check the Buffalo Trace Distillery website for updates. 

    The company intends to share details about community relief initiatives in coming weeks. In the meantime, those wishing to support local flood recovery efforts can contribute to the Franklin County Flood Relief Fund established by the city.

    Buffalo Trace leadership thanked employees, Franklin County community, fans, and vendors for support during recovery.

    “We know it is disappointing to have the Distillery closed and it is our top priority to welcome guests again as soon as possible. Recovery and clean-up teams at Buffalo Trace Distillery will continue to work diligently to prepare the grounds for reopening and the facility for operation,” said Wenz. “We also want to again say a heartfelt thanks to our team who has been tireless in their support and the Franklin County community as well as our fans and vendor partners for their support and understanding during this time. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.”

    Read the full article at Cleanup Underway at Buffalo Trace Distillery Following Severe Flooding

    SourceThe Whiskey Wash
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