At Buffalo Trace today

[Kyjd75]

I traveled to Buffalo Trace today along with Eric to help select a private barrel of Buffalo Trace bourbon for Eric's store. When we arrived at BT, the atmosphere was somber in respect to Elmer T. Lee, but also very busy. Lots of visitors, and lots of distilling and bottling activity going on. We met with the new Kentucky sales director, Bill Nolan, who guided us through the barrel selection process. Afterwards we had lunch on premise and happened to meet and talk for a few minutes with Harlen Wheatley. Also got to talk to Kris Comstock for a few minutes as well. The youth of the folks running the place is impressive. After lunch, a private tour guided by a nice fellow called "J.W.". It was awfully hot out walking around, and, in most of the buildings. Distilling is still going on as BT tries to deal with demand. All in all, we had a good time. Enjoyed our visit and meeting with everyone there, and hopefully selected a good barrel. A few photos:

[bllygthrd]

thanks for the report and pictures.

[Clavius]

Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Was a great (and hot) time.

Also have some good info on new BT products and some solid re-releases. All are coming very soon.

[theglobalguy]

Thanks for sharing guys, can't imagine what barrel proof tastes like in 95+ F!

[Jackinbox]

Was a great (and hot) time.

Also have some good info on new BT products and some solid re-releases. All are coming very soon.

Can't wait to hear about it. Also can't wait to come down and get a bottle from the barrel you selected. What's your rough estimate on when you'll receive shipment?

[mbroo5880i]

Sounds like a great time! Visited BT earlier this summer and enjoyed it.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Can't wait to hear about it. Also can't wait to come down and get a bottle from the barrel you selected. What's your rough estimate on when you'll receive shipment?

Will be a while, I am guessing early to mid november. The single barrel private selections are all hand bottled in a separate building from the standard single barrels.

[kcgumbohead]

Yes thanks for sharing the info and pics

[mark fleetwood]

Still distilling! Did they say how long into Summer they'd keep going?

[Jackinbox]

Still distilling! Did they say how long into Summer they'd keep going?

[squire]

Annual maintenance I should think, hard to give one part of the distillery a good going over while the rest of it is running.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Hottest week of the year made for a steamy tour.

The number of experimental barrels in the rickhouse we visited was staggering. Each barrel was stickered with a bar code no matter the age.

Ohh to have access to that database.

[squire]

Guess there won't be any 'accidental' barrels lying loose around there.

[mbroo5880i]

Guess there won't be any 'accidental' barrels lying loose around there.

At least, not until it is time to release a new product.

[mbroo5880i]

I remember Freddie pointing out some "peated" barrels when we were there.

[Kyjd75]

I remember Freddie pointing out some "peated" barrels when we were there.

[p_elliott]

When I took the Hard Hat Tour in May, I asked about this and she said they are only shutting down for the "mandatory 2 weeks" this year because of demand. I should have asked if the mandatory thing was some sort of government law because now I'm curious.

Distilleries normally shut down during the summer months because the heat has an ill effect on the yeast. Do some research on this. but it's longer than two weeks. It's not a government mandate it just good old fashion distilling practicing.

[Jackinbox]

Distilleries normally shut down during the summer months because the heat has an ill effect on the yeast. Do some research on this. but it's longer than two weeks. It's not a government mandate it just good old fashion distilling practicing.

Yes, I remember reading all about that. That's why I was surprised that they were staying open 50 weeks this year.

[bigtoys]

so who was this "JW" guy...does he have a middle initial, maybe one not capitalized?

nice pics of the barrel selection. looks like fun.

[mark fleetwood]

With demand so geat wish Saz would buy LDI.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Distilleries normally shut down during the summer months because the heat has an ill effect on the yeast. Do some research on this. but it's longer than two weeks. It's not a government mandate it just good old fashion distilling practicing.

This is normally the case but demand is high. I am sure there is some consideration for the increase in temperatures. It's not like 95 degrees and high humidity doesn't happen in April and late September in KY on occasion.

[bllygthrd]

Distilleries normally shut down during the summer months because the heat has an ill effect on the yeast. Do some research on this. but it's longer than two weeks. It's not a government mandate it just good old fashion distilling practicing.

A couple cooling coils in the mash tank would take care of this issue. Pretty common in the chemical industry.

[squire]

Years ago distillerys shut down during the Summer because of the effect of heat on the yeast but technology has advanced so the only reason for a shut down now is maintenance. Of course it was also an excuse to go silent for awhile to keep operating costs down when demand wasn't so high.

In the really olden days the distillery workers needed the time off to tend their crops.

[theglobalguy]

Adding to that, can imagine the heat knocks productivity down quite a bit. May as well align the heat with maintenance break and shift the workers to bottling/gift shop.