The most iconic distillery on the Bourbon Trail — home to Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, and their namesake Buffalo Trace. A National Historic Landmark with free tours and the hardest booking on the trail.
Buffalo Trace is the distillery everyone wants to visit — and for good reason. The campus is enormous and beautiful, sitting on the Kentucky River in Frankfort. It's been continuously operating since 1775 (making it the oldest continuously operating distillery in America, a claim they're proud of), and the place feels like it. Stone warehouses, copper stills, century-old buildings — there's a weight and history here that the newer distilleries can't replicate.
But here's the thing most people don't realize until they arrive: the experience is entirely free. Every tour, every tasting, no charge. That alone makes it one of the best values on the entire trail. The tradeoff is that it's also the hardest booking to get, especially for the Hard Hat Tour.
Plan to spend at least 2 hours here, even if your tour is only 60–90 minutes. The grounds are worth walking, the gift shop is extensive (and sometimes has allocated bottles — more on that below), and there's a peaceful quality to the riverside campus that rewards slowing down.
Buffalo Trace offers several tour options. Here's the honest breakdown on which ones are worth your time:
This is the one to get. The Hard Hat Tour takes you deeper into the production facility than any other tour — into the fermenting room, through the barrel warehouses, and past equipment most visitors never see. You'll wear a hard hat and closed-toe shoes are required. The guides are knowledgeable and the smaller group size means you can actually ask questions. This is the most popular tour on the entire Bourbon Trail, and it books out fast.
The standard tour and a great fallback if you can't get the Hard Hat. Covers the history of the distillery, the production process, and includes a tasting at the end. It's less in-depth than the Hard Hat but still a quality experience and you'll see the major highlights of the campus. Larger groups than the Hard Hat, but the guides keep it engaging.
Seasonal (typically spring through fall). Takes you through the distillery at night with a focus on the reportedly haunted areas of the 250-year-old campus. It's part history, part entertainment, and genuinely fun even if you're skeptical about ghosts. A nice option if you're staying in Frankfort overnight and want an evening activity. Includes a tasting.
Focuses specifically on the cooperage and aging process. Interesting if you're really into the science of barrel aging, but it overlaps significantly with what you'll learn on the Hard Hat or Trace Tour. Not a bad tour by any means, but if your time is limited, the Hard Hat covers similar ground with more depth and access.
Buffalo Trace releases tour availability on their website in rolling windows. The Hard Hat Tour is the most competitive — when new dates drop, they can fill within hours. Here's the strategy:
Check availability frequently starting about 8 weeks before your trip. Buffalo Trace's booking page is the only place to reserve — there's no phone booking or third-party options. If the Hard Hat is sold out, check back. Cancellations happen, especially in the week before your visit. Weekday tours are significantly easier to get than Saturdays.
If you can't get the Hard Hat, book the Trace Tour and don't feel like you're settling — it's still a great experience. You're still visiting the same legendary campus, you're still getting a free tasting, and you're still getting access to the gift shop.
Tuesday through Thursday tours are the easiest to book and have the smallest crowds. If you can structure your itinerary to hit Buffalo Trace midweek, you'll have a much better experience — shorter gift shop lines, more personal tour interactions, and a better shot at finding allocated bottles.
The Buffalo Trace gift shop is one of the best on the trail, and it's the main reason some people visit. Standard bottles like Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare are always available. The real draw is what's behind the counter — allocated bottles that aren't on the shelves.
Always ask. Politely ask the staff what they have available. On a good day, you might find Blanton's, E.H. Taylor, or Weller Special Reserve. On a rare day, something even better. Don't expect Pappy Van Winkle — those are lottery-only. But the distillery-exclusive single barrel picks are worth grabbing if they have them.
Arrive early for the best selection. Gift shop inventory is first-come, first-served, and popular bottles can sell out by midday on weekends. If you're on an afternoon tour, stop by the gift shop first and ask them to hold your purchase while you tour.
Some Frankfort liquor stores near Buffalo Trace mark up bottles significantly because tourists are willing to pay. If you're buying standard bottles like Buffalo Trace bourbon, the gift shop price is MSRP. Don't get talked into paying $40+ for a $25 bottle at a nearby shop.
Here's how Buffalo Trace stacks up across the categories we rate every distillery on:
Buffalo Trace is the single must-visit distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Free tours of a National Historic Landmark producing some of the most coveted bourbon in America — it's a no-brainer. The only challenge is booking. Plan ahead, be flexible on dates, and don't stress if you get the Trace Tour instead of the Hard Hat. Either way, you'll leave understanding why this place is legendary. Put this one at the top of your list and build the rest of your trip around it.
Address: 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601
Hours: Monday–Saturday 9 AM – 5 PM, Sunday 12 PM – 5 PM (tour times vary, check website)
Parking: Free on-site lot, plenty of space on weekdays. Weekends can fill up — arrive 15–20 minutes before your tour.
Accessibility: Trace Tour is mostly accessible. Hard Hat Tour involves stairs and uneven surfaces — not wheelchair accessible.
Kids: Allowed on tours, but no tasting for anyone under 21 (obviously). The grounds are pleasant for families.
Buffalo Trace pairs naturally with other Frankfort-area stops. Here are the best options to combine in a day:
Beautiful restored pre-Prohibition distillery. Great gin and bourbon, stunning grounds.
Postcard-perfect campus in Versailles. Pairs well if you're coming from Bardstown direction.
Excellent Italian in downtown Frankfort. Great break from Southern food after two days on the trail.
Bourbon-forward spot in Frankfort with solid bar food and a deep whiskey list.
Buffalo Trace is featured in our 3-Day Bourbon Trail Itinerary as the anchor stop on Day 3 (Frankfort). It pairs with Woodford Reserve in the morning and optional craft stops in the afternoon.