Pappy's Friend Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 Has anyone done the hard-hat tour at Buffalo Trace? When I went there this past August, they said they do hard-hat tours from October through March I believe. I'd like to go back if it's worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OscarV Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 [QUOTE][/QUOTE]Has anyone done the hard-hat tour at Buffalo Trace? When I went there this past August' date=' they said they do hard-hat tours from October through March I believe. I'd like to go back if it's worth it.[/quote']Good question, I'd like to know that to.I am going to be in KY in mid October. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frodo Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 What's a "hard hat tour"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy's Friend Posted September 30, 2006 Author Share Posted September 30, 2006 A hard-hat tour takes you behind the scenes at BT. The current tour only takes you into a barrel warehouse, the old scale house (for a video), and the bottling room. A hard-hat tour takes you into areas you wouldn't normally get to go. You have to call 3-4 days in advance and ask for it, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frodo Posted September 30, 2006 Share Posted September 30, 2006 Well, after seeing the photos from the KBF and getting an invite from Ken Weber to come tour the facility, this is just another reason to come down and feed my building curiosity... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barturtle Posted October 1, 2006 Share Posted October 1, 2006 Heck I go to distilleries just for the way it smells. As nice as the tours are, and they're getting better all the time, I would be happy just pulling up in the parking lot and hanging out in the wonderful aroma they put out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdery Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 A hard-hat tour takes you behind the scenes at BT. The current tour only takes you into a barrel warehouse' date=' the old scale house (for a video), and the bottling room. A hard-hat tour takes you into areas you wouldn't normally get to go. You have to call 3-4 days in advance and ask for it, though.[/quote']Thank you for this. I remember doing a tour with a StraightBourbon group a few years ago, but all I could remember was the video in the scale house. I couldn't remember what else we saw. Now I do. The "bottling room" I remember is the one where they do the single barrels. I don't think that tour included the main bottling house. We also were in the club house for a tasting.I went through the whole place maybe 15 years ago but I haven't had what they now call the "hardhat tour" now. It is a huge place. I have very vivid memories of their shop, where they could do all kinds of metal fabrication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyc Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 I have very vivid memories of their shop, where they could do all kinds of metal fabrication.That reminds me of something Sam Cecil wrote about their guys from the Schenley days or Ancient Age that made a miniature copper still for one of the G-men that was retiring and he got bent out of shape because the thing, while small was an actual working still! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBOmarc Posted October 3, 2006 Share Posted October 3, 2006 Is the October through March timeline firm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeK Posted October 3, 2006 Share Posted October 3, 2006 I got a Buffalo Trace "behind the scenes" tour with Ken Weber during the Sampler last spring. Thanks Ken!Here are some pictures if you're interested:http://www.mkellstrand.com/whiskey/sampler_2006/buffalo_trace.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daisy3d Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 My wife & I did an extra extended hard hat tour last spring with Julian Van Winkle as our personal guide, I just have to say it was a blast and worth the time. I think we spent around three hours on the grounds. It was an excellent experience and what a class act Julian is. It has to go down as one of our best vacations for sure.With or without Julian, take the hard hat tour! Cheers, PhilBrooklyn, MI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdery Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 I'm holding out for the "can I just live here?" tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barturtle Posted October 6, 2006 Share Posted October 6, 2006 I'm holding out for the "can I just live here?" tour.A little hammock the swings merrily over the fermenters? Yeast tub baths? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashPuppy Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 I'm holding out for the "can I just live here?" tour.Hell, I'm just holding out for the "can I just work here?" tour. :grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy's Friend Posted October 9, 2006 Author Share Posted October 9, 2006 I toured Woodford Reserve during Derby weekend this year. When we went into one of the barrel warehouses, there was the biggest, friendliest cat curled up (must have been the constant angel's share) in the corner. I wondered why the phrase "It's a dog's life." exists - that cat had the life I want! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Colonel Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 I took the hard hat tour at BT yesterday (Dec 20). My guide was Carey. The tour group size was one (me). We spent two and a half hours covering everything. Absolutely fascinating tour. The winter hours are the only time they give the hard hat tour because that's the only time of year they actually distill. They were going full blast yesterday. I got to taste the mash at different stages in the fermentation process. Got to sample the "white dog" after going through one pass through the still and then again after passing through the doubler. And of course there was the tasting of the final product in the tasting room. I recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in bourbon or distilling in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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