Buffalo Trace Distillery has officially opened the John G. Carlisle Cafe, a brand-new permanent restaurant located inside the historic Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse. The grand opening marks a major milestone for the iconic Kentucky bourbon distillery, coming nearly one year after devastating 2025 floodwaters impacted the property.

The 4,900-square-foot John G. Carlisle Cafe celebrates resilience, tradition, and hospitality. It reopens a space that has welcomed guests, employees, and dignitaries for more than 90 years — now available to the public for the first time.

Fresh Lunch Menu with Kentucky Classics & Buffalo Trace Flavors
Open primarily for lunch, the cafe seats 70 guests indoors with additional patio seating. The menu features made-to-order sandwiches, salads, desserts, and Kentucky favorites, including the legendary Kentucky Hot Brown.
Signature offerings highlight Buffalo Trace Distillery spirits with creative touches like:

Bourbon bacon
Barrel-aged coffee
Bourbon-infused fudge topping
Bourbon-whipped cream

Guests can also enjoy a rotating selection of cocktails made with Buffalo Trace family spirits, such as the Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned, Wheatley Vodka Peach Mule, and Traveller Whiskey Lucky Penny.

Honoring History with a Touch of Resilience
True to the distillery’s motto — “Honor Tradition, Embrace Change” — the cafe showcases rare historic artifacts:

The only known bottle of Carlisle Whiskey from the distillery’s archives
Vintage photographs of the original Carlisle Distillery
Images of employees enjoying the Clubhouse since the 1950s

A subtle but powerful reminder of the distillery’s strength is the preserved flood line inside the cafe, marking the historic high-water level from the April 2025 flood.

Three Weeks of Celebratory Events in May 2026

To mark the grand opening, Buffalo Trace Distillery is hosting special daily experiences throughout May. Visitors can enjoy:

Free Meal Mondays (May 11, 18, 25) — Complimentary meals for the first 100 guests
From the Archives Tuesdays (May 12, 19, 26) — Noon–2 p.m. open house with Lead Archivist Nick Laracuente featuring Carlisle Cafe history
Whiskey Wednesdays (May 13, 20, 27) — Complimentary samples of a new soon-to-be-released whiskey (bottles available in the gift shop while supplies last)
Meet the Masters Thursdays (May 14, 21, 28) — One-hour meet-and-greet inside the cafe:
May 14: Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller
May 21: Danny Kahn, Master Distiller & Distillation/Aging Operations Director
May 28: Drew Mayville, Master Blender

Freddie Fridays (May 15, 22, 29) — Complimentary Freddie’s Old-Fashioned Soda plus special appearances by Global Brand Ambassador Freddie Johnson
Sippin’ Saturdays (May 16, 23, 30) — Noon–2 p.m. seasonal cocktails and Buffalo Trace Bourbon-infused Rebecca Ruth’s chocolate pairing
Grain & Glass Sundays (May 17, 24, 31) — Complimentary breakfast bites (11 a.m.–noon) plus Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain tastings

A Space Built for Connection

Originally constructed in 1935, the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse served as a cafeteria, breakroom, and event venue for decades. The new John G. Carlisle Cafe is named in honor of the influential politician who helped pass the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. later built the Carlisle Distillery in tribute — a legacy now revived in this beautifully reimagined space.

“For years, guests have asked for a dedicated place to enjoy a meal while spending the day with us,” said Tyler Adams, General Manager of Buffalo Trace Distillery. “The John G. Carlisle Cafe is a meaningful addition to the Distillery experience, opening this historic space to the public for the first time and inviting visitors to slow down, settle in, and fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere that makes Buffalo Trace so special.”

Adams added: “As we introduce the John G. Carlisle Cafe, our team is committed to delivering a terrific experience. We encourage guests to plan extra time for their next visit.”

Visit the John G. Carlisle Cafe

Opening Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Hours: Daily, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Monday–Sunday)
Location: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
Plan your visit to the new John G. Carlisle Cafe and experience Kentucky bourbon heritage with a side of great food and warm hospitality. Reservations are not required, but arrive early during the May celebration events for the best experience.

About Buffalo Trace

Buffalo Trace Distillery, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, boasts one of the richest and most continuous histories in American whiskey-making. Distilling on the site dates back to 1775, when pioneers Hancock Lee and his brother Willis Lee established Leestown along the Kentucky River. The first formal distillery was built in 1812 by Harrison Blanton. In 1870, the legendary Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr.—often called the “Father of Modern Bourbon”—purchased the operation and named it the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery. Taylor later sold it to his business partner George T. Stagg, who expanded the facility and installed the nation’s first climate-controlled aging warehouses in 1886 using steam heat. Through fires, floods, tornadoes, and two world wars, the distillery endured, even remaining operational during Prohibition by producing medicinal whiskey—one of only a handful in Kentucky to do so.

In the 20th century, visionary leaders like Albert B. Blanton and Elmer T. Lee guided the distillery through challenging times, pioneering single-barrel bourbon and elevating quality standards. The Sazerac Company acquired the property in 1992 and renamed it Buffalo Trace Distillery in 1999, honoring the ancient buffalo trails that once crossed the Kentucky River nearby. Today, it stands as America’s oldest continuously operating distillery and a National Historic Landmark. It produces a vast portfolio of acclaimed bourbons, ryes, and vodkas—including its flagship Buffalo Trace bourbon—while preserving historic buildings and artifacts that connect visitors to more than 250 years of bourbon heritage.

Products

Buffalo Trace Distillery produces one of the most diverse and acclaimed portfolios of American whiskeys in the world. Its flagship Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a smooth, approachable daily sipper that has earned countless awards and serves as the foundation of the brand. The distillery is renowned for its premium and ultra-premium bourbons, including the highly sought-after Blanton’s Single Barrel, Eagle Rare 10 Year, W.L. Weller (Special Reserve, Antique, and Full Proof), George T. Stagg, Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. series, and the legendary Pappy Van Winkle expressions. In addition to its core bourbons, Buffalo Trace offers excellent rye whiskeys such as Sazerac Rye, limited-edition experimental releases through its Experimental Collection, and single-barrel and small-batch selections like Elmer T. Lee. The distillery also produces Wheatley Vodka (crafted by Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley) and the newer Traveller Whiskey line, demonstrating its commitment to innovation while honoring more than 250 years of Kentucky distilling tradition.

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BROOKLYN, NY (April 2026) – Widow Jane Distillery has announced an exciting new chapter in its ongoing partnership with Tequila Ocho: the release of Widow Jane Tequila Ocho Cask Finish Bourbon. Available starting in May 2026 at back bars and bottle shops nationwide, this innovative release marks the first time Tequila Ocho has permitted its aged tequila barrels to be repurposed for bourbon finishing.

The collaboration builds on a successful relationship that began in 2022 with the limited-edition Tequila Ocho Reposado Barrel Select Widow Jane and continued in 2023 with a Barrel Select Añejo. Now, the roles are reversed: Widow Jane’s flagship 10-year bourbon has been finished for eight months in well-seasoned Tequila Ocho casks from Arandas, Jalisco. The result is a distinctive tequila cask finished bourbon that beautifully marries Widow Jane’s signature bold, mineral-driven character with elegant notes of roasted agave, citrus, and earthy terroir.

“With our Ocho Cask Finish, we treated the agave character as a prism — not to mask our 10-year whiskey, but to refract it,” said Widow Jane Head Distiller Sienna Jevremov. “The result is a vivid freshness and brightness that still feels unmistakably Widow Jane. The Ocho casks bring roasted agave and mineral-rich earth that elevate the caramel into rich dulce de leche, while almond deepens into buttery pecan and nutmeg rises into herbaceous florals of tea and marigold.”

Tequila Ocho Global Brand Ambassador Jesse Estes added, “This marks the first time a bourbon has been finished in Tequila Ocho barrels. The cooked agave, minerality, and citrus notes provide a distinctive brightness that beautifully complements Widow Jane’s depth. It’s an expression of what’s possible when categories intersect meaningfully.”
Widow Jane Tequila Ocho Cask Finish Bourbon By The Numbers:

Widow Jane 10-Year Bourbon finished 8 months in Tequila Ocho casks
45.5% ABV / 91 Proof
MSRP: $74.99
Limited allocation: 1,000 9-liter cases (2,000 physical cases)

As with all Widow Jane whiskeys, the Tequila Ocho Cask Finish Bourbon is non-chill filtered and proofed with pure limestone-rich water from the legendary Rosendale Mines in upstate New York.

About Widow Jane Distillery

Widow Jane Distillery was founded in 2012 in the historic Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, by Daniel Preston (also known as Daniel Prieto Preston) and Vince Oleson. The brand emerged from the team’s earlier venture in bean-to-bar chocolate production at Cacao Prieto, located in a building on Conover Street that had previously served as a parachute factory. Inspired by a deep appreciation for bold, character-driven spirits and New York’s rich industrial heritage, the founders set out to create American whiskeys with a distinctly urban yet terroir-driven identity. The name “Widow Jane” pays homage to the legendary Widow Jane Mine in Rosendale, New York — a historic limestone quarry in the Hudson Valley whose stone helped build iconic landmarks including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, and the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. This connection to New York’s past became central to the brand’s story.

At the heart of Widow Jane’s philosophy is its use of pure, mineral-rich limestone water sourced from the Rosendale aquifer (near the historic mine), which is trucked approximately 100 miles to the Brooklyn distillery for proofing. All Widow Jane whiskeys are non-chill filtered to preserve intensity and complexity. The portfolio features carefully sourced and blended straight bourbons and ryes — including the flagship 10-Year Bourbon — along with small-batch releases and innovative finishes. Over the years, the distillery has expanded its own on-site distillation using heirloom grains like Baby Jane corn, while maintaining a commitment to bold, unapologetic New York-style whiskey. Today, Widow Jane stands as a pioneering craft distillery where cobblestone streets meet centuries-old mining history, delivering whiskeys that blend tradition, innovation, and unmistakable Brooklyn character.

Products

Widow Jane Distillery crafts a bold portfolio of premium American whiskeys known for their rich intensity, mineral character, and unapologetic New York spirit. The flagship Widow Jane 10 Year Bourbon leads the lineup, a carefully selected blend of straight bourbons aged a minimum of ten years and proofed with pure limestone-rich water from the historic Rosendale Mines. The range also includes the Widow Jane 10 Year Rye, limited single barrel releases, and innovative cask-finished expressions such as the newly released Widow Jane Tequila Ocho Cask Finish Bourbon. All Widow Jane whiskeys are non-chill filtered to preserve maximum flavor and texture, delivering notes of dark caramel, baking spices, toasted oak, and a distinctive mineral backbone. Whether enjoyed neat or in craft cocktails, Widow Jane products celebrate the intersection of Brooklyn creativity and traditional American whiskey craftsmanship.

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FALLON, NV (April 2026) – Frey Ranch Distillery, the award-winning Nevada grain-to-glass distillery known for growing and harvesting 100% of its whiskey grains on its own farm, has expanded into two new markets: Alabama and Mississippi. With this latest growth, Frey Ranch’s portfolio of premium bourbons and rye whiskeys is now available on- and off-premise in 17 key U.S. states, including Nevada, California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Oregon, Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Virginia, New Mexico, and Indiana.

“We’re excited to introduce the Frey Ranch portfolio to Alabama and Mississippi — two states that also have deep agricultural roots — giving them a taste of true farm-to-glass whiskey made from grains we grow and harvest exclusively on our family farm,” said Colby Frey, Co-Founder and Whiskey Farmer at Frey Ranch Distillery.

During its annual farm-to-glass season (April through July), Frey Ranch is partnering with the Pollinator Partnership to support pollinator health nationwide. For every farm-to-glass cocktail or bottle of Frey Ranch whiskey sold during this period, the distillery will donate a portion of proceeds to pollinator initiatives, with a commitment of up to $10,000. This collaboration highlights a shared dedication to land stewardship, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture — values rooted in the Frey family’s multi-generational farming heritage.

“As farmers, we have a symbiotic relationship with bees — nature’s original stewards,” Frey continued. “Their pollinating superpowers sustain our crops, preserve biodiversity, and promote healthy ecosystems. What bees need, farmers need too.”

The Frey family’s guiding motto, “Be good to the land and the land will be good to you,” is embossed on the bottom of every bottle, reflecting their common-sense approach to sustainable farming and the inspiration behind building a distillery that creates distinctive, estate-grown whiskeys.

About Frey Ranch

The story of Frey Ranch Distillery is deeply rooted in over 165 years of family farming in Northern Nevada. The Frey family’s agricultural legacy began in 1854 when Colby Frey’s great-great-grandfather Charles established one of the region’s first homesteads, a decade before Nevada even became a state. For five generations, the family has cultivated the high-desert lands near Fallon, growing wheat, rye, barley, corn, and other rotation crops on what is now a 1,500-acre ranch. Colby Frey, who grew up working the fields alongside his father, developed a profound respect for the land and the quality of the grains it produced. Yet like many farmers, he watched those grains leave the farm to be shipped overseas, never seeing the final product. This inspired Colby and his wife Ashley to dream bigger: transforming their estate-grown grains into something enduring and exceptional.

In 2006, Colby and Ashley Frey founded Frey Ranch Distillery with a vision to create true farm-to-glass whiskey — growing, malting, distilling, aging, and bottling everything on-site. Nevada lacked commercial distilling laws at the time, so the early years involved small-scale experimentation on a homemade still while the couple advocated for change. Once regulations allowed, production scaled up, and the distillery officially released its first whiskeys in the late 2010s. Today, Frey Ranch stands as one of America’s rare true estate distilleries, producing award-winning four-grain bourbons, straight rye, and other expressions that showcase the unique terroir of Northern Nevada. Guided by the family motto embossed on every bottle — “Be good to the land and the land will be good to you” — the Frey Ranch team continues to honor sustainable farming, pollinator health, and the belief that exceptional whiskey begins in the soil.

Products

Frey Ranch Distillery produces a distinctive portfolio of farm-to-glass whiskeys made entirely from grains sustainably grown, malted, distilled, matured, and bottled on its 2,500-acre family farm in Fallon, Nevada. The core lineup features the award-winning Frey Ranch Four-Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey (90 proof, aged at least five years with a mashbill of non-GMO corn, winter rye, winter wheat, and two-row barley), the Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey (100 proof, 100% winter cereal rye aged a minimum of five years), and the bold Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon and newly released Farm Strength Uncut Rye — both cask-strength expressions that deliver intense, undiluted character. The distillery also offers limited single barrel releases and special grain-forward whiskeys (including 100% barley and wheat expressions), all showcasing the unique terroir of slow-grown Northern Nevada grains. Every bottle proudly carries the family motto “Be good to the land and the land will be good to you,” reflecting Frey Ranch’s commitment to producing rich, smooth, and authentic estate whiskeys unlike any other.

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COLUMBUS, KY (April 2026) – The Ingram Distillery, home of the world’s only floating barrelhouse, is now officially open to the public. Visitors can walk the historic grounds on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, step aboard the one-of-a-kind floating barrelhouse, sip award-winning river-aged whiskies, and enjoy stunning river views.

The Ingram Distillery is also proud to announce a new partnership with One Mississippi, the nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, strengthening, and restoring the Mighty Mississippi River.
Three immersive tour experiences are now available, giving guests an exclusive look into the distillery’s innovative River Aging process that creates its distinctive, award-winning whiskies:

Barge to Bottle Classic Tour

Private Chartered Experience (private tour and tasting)
Mellow on the Mississippi Retreat – a curated evening featuring exclusive tastings, a chef-prepared dinner, and overnight stay

“We couldn’t be more excited to open our grounds to the public and announce our partnership with One Mississippi — an organization that cares as deeply as we do about the Mississippi River,” said Founder Hank Ingram. “Visitors will experience the perfect blend of history and innovation as they see firsthand how the river’s motion, humidity, and temperature swings shape our whiskies. We’re proud to share this special place and our story with everyone who loves great bourbon and the river.”
The partnership stems from a shared love of the Mississippi River and a commitment to preserving it for future generations. To celebrate Earth Day (April 22), The Ingram Distillery will donate 10% of all sales from April 22–26 (both on-site and online) to One Mississippi. The distillery will also support the organization’s annual River Days of Action, including Mississippi River Day on June 2.

“The unique connection between The Ingram Distillery’s award-winning, river-aged whiskies and the Mississippi River makes them a natural partner in our work,” said Kelly McGinnis, Executive Director of One Mississippi. “This Earth Day initiative marks the beginning of a powerful collaboration that will benefit the river and the communities along its banks.”

The public opening follows another strong year for the distillery. In 2025, it released the latest vintage of its ultra-premium O.H. Ingram Flagship Bourbon and introduced Uncharted, a new Kentucky wheated bourbon. The brand’s award-winning lineup is now available in eight states, including recent expansion into Alaska and Texas.

About Ingram Distillery

The Ingram Distillery traces its roots to a deep, multi-generational connection with the Mississippi River. Founder Hank Ingram, whose family has been involved in river commerce for five generations since the original O.H. Ingram began shipping oak logs in 1857, drew inspiration from early American whiskey history. In the days before reliable railroads, Kentucky bourbon barrels were often floated down the Mississippi to New Orleans markets, where the constant motion, temperature swings, and humidity of the river naturally enhanced the spirit. Hank sought to revive this lost tradition, and in 2015 he pioneered the world’s first permanent floating rickhouses — custom-built inside former grain barges — to age whiskey directly on the water in Western Kentucky.

Moored along the banks of the Mississippi River in Columbus, Kentucky, beside the historic Columbus-Belmont State Park, The Ingram Distillery creates award-winning whiskies that spend their entire maturation entirely on the river. The unique “River Aging” process — driven by the barge’s gentle motion, extreme daily temperature fluctuations, and high humidity — accelerates flavor extraction from the oak while reducing the angel’s share, resulting in remarkably smooth and complex bourbons mature beyond their years. From the flagship O.H. Ingram River Aged Bourbon to the later addition of Uncharted Kentucky Wheated Bourbon, every drop tells a story of history, innovation, and a profound respect for the Mighty Mississippi. In 2026, the distillery opened its scenic bluff-top grounds to the public, inviting visitors to experience this one-of-a-kind floating barrelhouse firsthand.

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