News Notes: Buffalo Trace's Summer Camp, World's Biggest Bar in Trouble, Wyoming Returns to Owners

A Grown-Up's Sleepaway Camp At Buffalo Trace

Camp Buffalo Trace, an adult-only summer camp pairs whiskey education with nostalgic camp activities. Taking place on August 29th and September 5th, a select number of sweepstakes winners will be selected to participate. This is yet another event among historic tours, concert series, and themed brunches scheduled this summer at the Frankfurt campus.

The daytime program includes crafting custom muddlers from barrel staves, a “Bung Driving” relay race, blind tastings, trivia on the distillery’s history, and a Single Barrel Challenge wherein campers sample one whiskey at different ages and are challenged to identify its age.

Those interested in attending must enter the sweepstakes, and can choose between one of two experiences: day camp only or day camp followed by an overnight stay. Only 90 winners will be chosen at random to attend, each allowed to bring one guest. The sweepstakes are free to enter online from July 14th at 12:00 p.m. through July 21st at 11:59 p.m. Craving more drams in the great outdoors? Explore glamping in the Wyoming wilderness or skiing in Vermont among other experiences in our 2026 summer issue, on sale now.

World's Biggest Bar Getting The Boot

In the latest chapter of the long-running legal drama surrounding troubled Tennessee distillery Uncle Nearest, Humble Baron—the world’s longest bar, located on the distillery’s campus in Shelbyville, Tennesseee—has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to the suit filed by owner Keith Weaver, the bar faces financial difficulties due to high operating costs, management changes, and damage stemming from the fallout associated with its ongoing receivership battle. Phillip G. Young, the receiver appointed to handle Uncle Nearest, says the bar has failed to pay rent in accordance with its lease and owes around $65,000. Young is now seeking to evict the Weavers from the property.

Wyoming Whiskey Ownership Returns In-House

Glasgow, Scotland-based whisky group Edrington has sold its majority stake in Wyoming Whiskey, selling its shares to co-founder David DeFazio’s investment group. Founded in 2006, the Kirby, Wyoming-based distillery became a part of the Edrington portfolio in 2018, and Edrington took a larger stake in 2023. Following the reacquisition, the brand will also see involvement from renowned master blender Nancy Fraley, who served as master blender at Wyoming from 2014 to 2023.

New Spirits Releases

Código 1530 has unveiled a 15 year old extra añejo tequila, among the oldest age-stated expressions in the category. Limited to 350 bottles globally, the release spends 15 years in French oak Cabernet barrels before a 6-month finish in cognac casks. It retails for $4,100 and builds on the brand's 13 and 14 year old extra añejo releases from 2021 and 2022.