Bourbon Country is expanding at a rate quite possibly faster than the universe itself. Last night Buffalo Trace held Grand Opening ceremonies for not one but TWO recently renovated spaces on its grounds. When Buffalo Trace first opened up tours, there were 5913 visitors in the first year. Last year there were over 128k, and that number continues to grow. Coupled with the popularity of bourbon, they’ve been taking a look around their facilities and repurposing whatever they can to accommodate the boom.
The first facility to be dedicated last night was the newly renovated Old Taylor House. The house is the oldest building on the Distillery grounds as well as the oldest residence in Franklin County, Kentucky. It was once the home of Commodore Richard Taylor, Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr.’s great-grandfather. Renovation included excavations of historic artifacts, some of which were found in a centuries-old trash pit buried right in the front yard, according to bourbon archeologist Nicolas Laracuente.
The second facility to be dedicated last night was the newly renovated and greatly expanded Visitor’s Center. What was once a few small rooms at the front of a warehouse building has now taken over the entire building in order to accommodate the massive influx of tourists. The wood floors upstairs were salvaged and refinished, adding to the historic harmony and preservation of this landmark distillery.
Bourbon is about more than just drinking to Kentuckians. It’s our history, heritage, and culture. Buffalo Trace’s commitment to historic preservation is evident in everything they do, including their bourbon.
Photos Courtesy of Maggie Kimberl
