A clean-up process has begun at Sazerac’s Buffalo Trace Bourbon distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, following a flood that shut the site for over a week.
The US spirits group announced the closure of the 200-year-old distillery over a week ago in the wake of “historic levels of rain”. It was then closed to both visitors and workers.
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An update issued on Friday (11 April) by the distillery confirmed flood waters had “completely receded, granting access and allowing for clean-up and recovery efforts to happen throughout the entirety of campus”.
The business said “detailed assessments and subsequent repairs” had started, but stressed: “The amount of damage is still being determined.”
Flood warnings have been removed for the majority of Kentucky, according to the National Weather Service’s Kentucky office forecast as of 11am BST today (14 April). Alerts are still in place for Owensboro and Hopkinsville in the west of Kentucky.
Sazerac and Buffalo Trace Distillery CEO Jake Wenz said “preparation work” had been carried out prior to the flooding, helping to alleviate “the extent of the damage we might have otherwise sustained”.
Wenz added the business had resumed shipping finished products as of Friday morning and that bottling would start up again at some point this week.
An inspection of barrels affected by flood waters started last Thursday and is expected to continue “until all have been appropriately assessed”, Buffalo Trace’s statement said.
While the assessment could go on for “several weeks”, the company said “any loss of barrels is not expected to be meaningful”.
“A lot of heart and soul goes into every product we make, which is why our team is dedicated to testing with heavy scrutiny each barrel possibly affected by flood waters to ensure there are no issues,” said Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace Distillery master distiller.
“We have never, nor will we ever, compromise on the quality or safety of the whiskey we make.”
A clean-up has also started in the Buffalo Trace visitor centre, which was flooded on the first floor and will need to see repairs. The space is expected to open “in a modified manner as soon as possible”.
The distillery was expected to remain shut “through” to Sunday, with “a greatly modified retail experience” opening to visitors from early this week.
A select number of employees will be allowed on site until it is fully reopened again to visitors.
Sazerac acquired the Buffalo Trace distillery in 1992. The site produces a range of Sazerac’s whiskey brands, including Buffalo Trace, W.L. Weller, Eagle Rare and Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon.
