Buffalo Trace Auctions Unicorn Bottlings in Charity Fundraiser

Things at the Buffalo Trace Distillery aren't fully back to normal, with production at limited capacity until restoration is complete. Ongoing ventilation efforts in a few warehouses and electrical repairs are also in the works. Tours will also remain modified, but reservations aren’t required anymore to visit, and walk-ins are once again welcome.

Buffalo Trace is, for the most part, back on its feet after the massive flooding that inundated the distillery in early April. Now, over six weeks later, restoration efforts are nearly complete, and the distillery is looking to bolster support for communities across the state that were also impacted by the same severe storms. The distillery has partnered with BlockBar, an e-commerce marketplace for wine and spirits, to host an online charity fundraiser called “Pour It Forward for Kentucky.” Every dollar made from the fundraiser will directly benefit the American Red Cross and the Franklin County Flood Relief Fund held at the Blue Grass Community Foundation.

“The recent spring storms have had a profound impact on communities across Kentucky,” said Sazerac president and CEO Jake Wenz. “It’s essential that we rally people to support our neighbors in need… and every bid placed is a step toward helping our community recover.”

The fundraiser kicked off at 10 a.m. this morning and ends at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 5th. The auction portion of the event has a wide variety of unicorn bottlings and exclusive experiences up for grabs. Ultra-aged expressions—like Weller Millennium, Eagle Rare 25, and O.F.C. Vintage 2005—are featured as well as collectible bourbon sets from Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, 2024 Prohibition Collection, E.H. Taylor, and a complete Pappy collection donated by the Van Winkle family. A bottle of Double Eagle Very Rare is also on offer, accompanied by a coffee table made from a former barrel that held the Double Eagle liquid and crafted by the Buffalo Trace Whiskey Woodcraft team.

A fully immersive distillery experience is also available, which includes a chance to select and purchase a barrel of Blanton’s Gold, a VIP distillery tour, and an overnight stay at Stagg Lodge, the invite-only, five-bedroom, four-bath log cabin located on the distillery’s warehouse farm. Musician duo Chris and Morgane Stapleton have also offered a number of items from a classic Epiphone Hummingbird Studio guitar, exclusive merchandise, and a bottle of Traveller Whiskey, all signed by Chris Stapleton. Fans of the popular TV show “Yellowstone” can bid on an all-expense-paid trip to go behind the scenes on the set of filming, among other projects, at 101 Studios in Fort Worth.

The other part of the fundraiser includes two sweepstakes. The first is the opportunity to purchase one bottle of O.F.C. Vintage 2006, which is a part of the highly collectible lineup that pays homage to Buffalo Trace’s predecessor and National Historical Landmark, O.F.C. (Old Fashioned Copper) Distillery. The second will entice golf fans with the chance to win a PGA package. Complete with a round of golf for four on the coveted PLAYERS Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida, winners will also receive two Buffalo Trace Bettinardi putters made with wood inserts from used Buffalo Trace barrels (priced at $900 each on the distillery’s online store). Both sweepstakes require a $50 donation for one entry on the registration site, with no limit on how many entries can be made by a single donor.

A starting bid of $100 for each lot is required to enter the auction and the sweepstakes on BlockBar’s website. There are no reserves, and all bids must be received by June 5th at 10 a.m. Email and phone notifications will be sent to winners by the week of June 9th. For the auction, BlockBar will facilitate shipment of bottles to winners via mail.