As many of you already know, the beloved Buffalo Trace Distillery has become one with the Kentucky River. This month, the river reached a staggering 48.39 feet—just shy of the record 48.50 feet set back in 1979.
Several iconic Buffalo Trace buildings have been swallowed by the rising waters. The parking lot, along with numerous vehicles, has fallen victim to the flood. Images circulating on social media and news outlets paint a heartbreaking picture: the visitor center, warehouses, and the iconic Buffalo Trace water tower are all engulfed, flooded, and overtaken by what was once a scenic river—now infamous.
The historic distillery has temporarily closed its doors due to the severe flooding. Several reports indicate that Buffalo Trace aims to reopen on April 10. In a recent interview with the Lexington Herald, a spokesperson for the distillery shared:
“We can share that the flooding is extensive.”
However, the full extent of the damage and its impact on production has yet to be disclosed. In an official press release, Buffalo Trace stated:
“Due to the unprecedented and ongoing rain and flooding, we are not able to advise on the impact on our total distillery footprint.”
This isn’t the first time Buffalo Trace has dealt with flooding—in fact, it was hit earlier this year—but this latest event ranks among the worst since the record-breaking 1979 flood.
Buffalo Trace’s CEO also issued a statement, expressing solidarity with the state of Kentucky:
“Buffalo Trace Distillery will support relief efforts in the coming weeks to help Frankfort residents through this difficult time.”
This flood has caused significant damage across the Bluegrass State—my home—and while seeing our favorite distilleries underwater is painful, let us not forget the lives and families affected or lost due to this natural disaster.
I urge every reader to support Kentucky bourbon and, more importantly, to remember those impacted. Raise a glass in honor of the lives lost and the homes destroyed. And to my fellow Kentuckians: stay strong, hold fast, and remember our state motto—“United we stand, divided we fall.”
Logan Huddleston
Hello, my name is Logan Huddleston. I own and operate To Cigar, which provides cigar and alcohol content on all major social media platforms. My goal is to connect with and engage other GenZers to help them fall in love with cigars and cigar culture. I do reviews, memes, recipes, pairings, pretty much anything that connects with my audience. Most nights, I can be found with a cigar in one hand and a good drink in the other. Life brings us many questions, but I’m fond of saying, the answer is always To Cigar!
