Homeplace History - Buffalo Trace Distillery's Master Distiller, Harlen Wheatley

Explore the fascinating story and rich heritage of Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, with Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley as your guide. Follow Wheatley's journey into the world of bourbon and his experience at Buffalo Trace, including the company's remarkable growth and expansion.
02:00: Joining Buffalo Trace Distillery
Harlen discusses his experience working at Buffalo Trace Distillery, including the dilapidated state of the distillery when he first started.
06:58: Meeting Demand and Planning for the Future
Harlen discusses the challenges of meeting the high demand for their popular brands and how they plan for future production based on current demand. He also shares insights on the massive investment of $1.2 billion that Sazerac is making across their distilleries to support future growth.
08:30: Adventures with Elmer: The Canoe Trip Gone Wrong
Harlen fondly recounts their experiences and adventures with Elmer T. Lee, a former master distiller and an icon in the industry.
10:00: The Evolution of Bourbon
Harlen explains the evolution of the bourbon industry, from its accidental beginnings to the current preference for aged products.
11:10: Carrying on a Legacy
Harlen is the sixth distiller since the Civil War and feels it is important to carry on the legacy of The Distillery. He wants to hand the baton off to the next distiller in good shape, ensuring that the legacy remains intact. All the products made at The Distillery are authentic, high-quality, and without compromise.
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Learn more: www.buffalotra...
Book a complimentary tour & tasting: www.buffalotra...
Gifts for bourbon lovers: www.buffalotra...
Our brands: www.buffalotra...

[@dustinstober9647]

Glad to hear there are no plans of slowing down!!!!

[@BuffaloTraceDistillery]

Definitely not!

[@thomasaccuntius9946]

I like learning the history about any distillery, especially Buffalo Trace. I had wondered how long Harlen has been there. I was supprised he took the job, being the state everything was in. But I'm glad he did.

[@cugglymonster]

Harlan Wheatley is horrible human being inside and out. Ask most of his employees, especially current and former managers and supervisors. Awful, awful man. It will be a great day when he’s no longer running things at Buffalo Trace.

[@ronhalfman4158]

Cant wait to visit in a couple of weeks and see it all in person

[@Captain-ln3vh]

Buffalo Trace is a beautiful distillery. One of my favorite places to visit and grab a couple bottles.

[@OlleJAndersson]

Love watching the whiskey Wednesdays while sipping some Blanton’s. Hope to get to visit the distillery some day, it’s a long way from Sweden :)

[@OGbrick420]

keep up the good work!

[@BuffaloTraceDistillery]

Will do! Thanks for watching!

[@altorre5739]

@@BuffaloTraceDistillery I bought a bottle of Buffalo Trace and I have to say it really is an excellent whisky. A customer from France.

[@danielshires3580]

Hi Harlan, I love your videos. Discovered them about two weeks ago trying to watch them all there’s plenty. They’re fantastic very informative. I love to visit your distillery. I run a grocery store in Canton Michigan And of course we know all of us guys wanna have all the allocated products from your distillery working hard with our salesman. Just wanna let you know that amazing products there thank you. Would love to visit your distillery someday.

[@cugglymonster]

Harlan Wheatley is horrible human being inside and out. Ask most of his employees, especially current and former managers and supervisors. Awful, awful man. It will be a great day when he’s no longer running things at Buffalo Trace.

[@johnny2case891]

Thank you for your great service and outstanding product.

[@kylewipert11]

I appreciate you guys not sacrificing quality just to get product out. Looking forward to seeing Buffalo Trace products everywhere in 8-10 years.

[@joshbeebe5804]

Miss the videos! Please bring them back!

[@brianperry9108]

Love the history behind my personal favorite bourbon.

[@anthonyarduini5044]

What a fantastic story. Cheers my friends! 🥃

[@robw1085]

Keep up the Damn Good Work yall are Amazing !

[@joeovip]

What a great video. Full of history, love and pride. Thanks for sharing. I can imagine all the stories that Harlen has about his work and experience. Ufff.

[@keymail21]

Love the canoe story Harlen! Here's to Elmer and Whiskey! 🥃🙌👏

[@bluidog2]

Great story ! Great product ! ❤

[@itswhiskeytime8538]

Great story telling by Mr. Wheatley. Glad he didn't kill Elmer, LOL!

[@BuffaloTraceDistillery]

Couldn't agree more!!

[@chrisharrell1407]

Harlan's picture will be on the wall one day, good thing his hair always looks nice!

[@billrichardson7099]

I recently visited the Bardstown Distilling Co. and on our way home we stopped at two different liquor stores. It was sad that they were selling bottles of Weller up to $2400 a bottle.

[@cugglymonster]

Harlan Wheatley is horrible human being inside and out. Ask most of his employees, especially current and former managers and supervisors. Awful, awful man. It will be a great day when he’s no longer running things at Buffalo Trace. Greedy and doesn’t at all care about his employees, only money.

[@HossinFW]

Great story, funny when he said I was just glad I didn’t kill Elmer. LoL!

[@GarrettKoval]

Harlen just comes across as the guy you want tasting and guaranteeing your whiskey is bottled to perfection. Cheers Harlen.

[@raulrodriguez4006]

Ever since they changed distribution cant find these guys bottles anywhere in my state.

[@22Buckman]

Too bad your flagship products are so scarce in my area...hopefully the expanded production capabilities and the new distribution will solve this issue....

[@That_dude_who_knows_some_stuff]

Buffalo trace is forcing the entire industry to do better. Keep up those high standards, because we all win.

[@BuffaloTraceDistillery]

Glad to see our efforts are making a positive impact. Thank you for the support!

[@haha-mq8lw]

​@@BuffaloTraceDistillery just picked up a bottle for first time today excellent stuff

[@MarcusRefusius]

Luckily for me a friend in Colorado set me on to Buffalo Trace several years ago. Prior to that I largely drank Beam. Wild Turkey when I was younger. I’m 67 and retired..no longer drink at home, but we have a very nice restaurant/Bar up the road, just outside the gate of Sequoia National Park. Right on the River. And they pour me the Buffalo Trace. GREAT Bourbon. I’m originally from Southern Ohio, and most of my kin from Southern Indiana and I must admit I didn’t know what the Buffalo Trace was until I looked into it. Good Stuff glad to see a nice American success story! Funny Deliverance story. Cheers!

[@scottcooksey5284]

OFC,,Talk about the back history of them.

[@GarySmythe]

Buffalo Trace makes damn good whiskey!

[@BourbonJawnt]

Love the super old photos like he was born in 1890 😂

[@Thompson892]

Buffalo trace basically invented allocation in the bourbon market

[@Alandliquor]

Dear Buffalo Trace Distillery, Alan d' liquor/Bistro is looking to enrich our selection with a store pick of Buffalo Trace Single Barrel. Our Michigan customers appreciate the unparalleled quality of your bourbon, and we're keen to offer a handpicked barrel that showcases the best of Buffalo Trace, tailored to their taste. Let's connect to discuss the details of selecting a barrel that aligns with our commitment to excellence and your esteemed bourbon-making tradition. Warm regards, ] Alan d' liquor

[@scottraper9574]

Will we every be able to walk in a liquor store and they have the BTAC line for a price a person can afford? Why is so little made?

[@Wicked03GT]

I heard Buffalo Trace is the parent of the Bowman Brothers brand as well? Any truth to that?

[@lt9303]

Great distillery. Great products. Terrible distribution. Literally the only product you see on the shelf is standard BT.

[@BruceWSims]

In my very very humble opinion, I believe that BUFFALO TRACE is dropping the ball by not making more of the Oak Project which I believe was/is a huge contribution to the production of Whiskey in general and Bourbon in particular in the United States. The implications of this research in establishing the character of the product are huge. Sadly, I remember my tour of Buffalo Trace made no mention of this work with the single witness being a 2X3 framed poster around the corner and out of sight from the general tasting area. I am left to conclude that this work may easily follow Single Barrel Bourbon into the cloudy past. Shame on you.

[@cugglymonster]

Harlan Wheatley is horrible human being inside and out. Ask most of his employees, especially current and former managers and supervisors. Awful, awful man. It will be a great day when he’s no longer running things at Buffalo Trace.