Inside Look: Buffalo Trace Distillery, London

Good news for bourbon lovers across the pond: London is now home to one of America’s most revered whiskey brands. In May, Buffalo Trace Distillery debuted a location in London’s Covent Garden with two tasting rooms and a retail shop where curious whiskey enthusiasts can get to know the American stalwart’s iconic expressions.

Considering England’s proximity to whisky-producing Scotland and Ireland, why has the Kentucky-based distillery decided to expand its footprint into London? “Many spirits consumers are more familiar with bourbon’s global whiskey counterparts,” says Ed Bell, Homeplace Director of parent company Sazerac. “And Buffalo Trace Distillery London aims to offer a space to learn more about—and hopefully, fall in love with—our bourbon whiskey.” Bell adds that London’s prominence in the UK, its proximity to Europe, and its status as the number one American whiskey market outside of the U.S. called for a bourbon outpost.

The 2,000-square-foot space emulates Buffalo Trace Distillery’s 19th-century national historic landmark distillery in Kentucky. Thoughtful touches include red brick and green metal as nods to the aging warehouses and, of course, oak accents for the new charred oak barrels used to age the whiskey. “There are copper accents that draw inspiration from the original OFC [old fashioned copper] stills from 200-plus years ago,” says Bell. But his favorite tribute is the tasting trays on which the pours are served. “These were hand-crafted by our distillery’s Whiskey Woodcraft team, who take used barrels and turn them into dozens of amazing new uses.”

Each of the tasting rooms offers a unique experience. The “Taste of the Trace” session features a guided tasting of the brand’s core lineup—Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Sazerac Rye, Bourbon Cream, plus bourbon and ginger ale. “Tradition and Change,” the more intimate experience, offers premium expressions, such as White Dog Mash #1, Eagle Rare 10-Year-Old, E.H. Taylor Small Batch, and a small pour of a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned. “Master storytellers” lead visitors on an immersive experience not only through taste but smell, sight, and hearing. And, occasionally a special guest may make an appearance, hints global brand director Andrew Duncan. Recently, Buffalo Trace’s master blender Drew Mayville surprised a lucky group and led them through a tasting.

“As we evolve the experience, we will continue to introduce authentic elements from the original Kentucky experience,” Duncan promises. And although the retail shop currently offers a limited selection of bottles to purchase, Duncan says the offerings may expand as the location continues to grow.