If you’re a whisky drinker, you probably know the basics of whisky making. You might’ve even dreamed about ditching your day job to become a distiller. If you’re one of those dreamers, Buffalo Trace Distillery has an offer you won’t refuse: a sweepstakes contest that gives the winner a chance to work alongside master distiller Harlen Wheatley.
The lucky distiller-for-a-day, and their guest, will be afforded the deepest behind-the-scenes access that any Buffalo Trace visitor has ever received, as they complete nearly every aspect of the whiskey-making process alongside Wheatley. And working hand-in-hand with the master distiller isn’t the only perk.
The winner will receive roundtrip transportation, including airfare if needed, to Louisville, and a one-night stay at a 4-star hotel in the city. Private transportation to Buffalo Trace in Frankfort (about an hour from Louisville) will be provided, as will a $100 Uber credit, for any additional ground transportation needs. After a day’s work at the distillery is done, the winner and their guest will be treated to tastes of the 2023 Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection (the entirety of which commanded a $1,000 price tag), and they’ll be the recipients of two $100 gift cards to the distillery’s gift shop.
The fun won’t end there, as a one-night stay at Buffalo Trace’s Stagg Lodge, with dinner prepared by the distillery’s private chef, is included in the prize. Built in 2020, the Stagg Lodge is a log cabin; while the words “log cabin” might evoke a quaint picture, the property is anything but—across its well-appointed 4,000 square feet are five bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as a wraparound porch that overlooks the distillery.
On to the most pertinent info: how you enter for a chance to win. You have from today, September 23, until next Monday, September 30, to enter the online sweepstakes. Your name, birthdate (you must be at least 21 years old), state of residence (potential entrants must be legal residents of the U.S.), and contact info are all that’s needed. The winner will be randomly drawn on October 1, and they’ll then have until around April 1, 2025, to schedule a date for the experience, as the distillery requires at least four weeks notice to plan it, and it must occur by May 1, 2025.
