BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES THE GRAND OPENING OF THE JOHN G. CARLISLE CAFE

In celebration of the Distillery’s first permanent dining destination, Buffalo Trace invites guests to explore a three-week lineup of daily experiences

FRANKFORT, KY (April 21, 2026) – Buffalo Trace Distillery today announces the grand opening of the John G. Carlisle Cafe, a permanent dining destination located within the historic Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse. Opening nearly one year after historic floodwaters impacted the Distillery, the John G. Carlisle Cafe is a testament to the Distillery’s resilience and enduring spirit of hospitality, inviting guests to gather and dine in a space that has been central to the Distillery for more than 90 years.

Primarily focused on lunchtime service, the 4,900-square-foot cafe offers seating for 70 guests with additional seats on the patio. The menu features made-to-order sandwiches, salads and desserts as well as Kentucky classics, including the iconic Kentucky Hot Brown. Buffalo Trace-infused flavors are incorporated into select cafe menu offerings, including bourbon bacon, barrel-aged coffee, bourbon-infused fudge topping and whipped cream, and more. Additionally, the John G. Carlisle Cafe will offer a rotating menu of select cocktails featuring Buffalo Trace spirits available for purchase, including a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned, Wheatley Vodka Peach Mule and a Traveller Whiskey Lucky Penny.

Keeping with the Distillery’s motto, “Honor Tradition, Embrace Change,” the John G. Carlisle Cafe features historic artifacts that connect guests to the people and moments that have shaped the Distillery’s more than two centuries of history. On display is the only known bottle of Carlisle Whiskey, which has been preserved in the Distillery’s archives, along with rare photographs of the original Carlisle Distillery and images of employees using the Clubhouse dating back to the 1950s. Visitors who look closely may also notice a subtle yet powerful design element inside the cafe – the flood line marking the historic high-water level reached during the April 2025 flood.

“For years, guests have asked for a dedicated place to enjoy a meal while spending the day with us,” said Tyler Adams, General Manager, Buffalo Trace Distillery. “The John G. Carlisle Cafe is a meaningful addition to the Distillery experience, opening this historic space to the public for the first time and inviting visitors to slow down, settle in, and fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere that makes Buffalo Trace so special.”

In celebration of the John G. Carlisle Cafe’s grand opening, the Distillery is hosting a three-week lineup of daily offerings throughout May. Those visiting can enjoy:

• Monday (5/11, 5/18, 5/25): Kick off the week with Free Meal Mondays, complimentary for the first 100 guests (meal vouchers provided upon check-in).
• Tuesday (5/12, 5/19, 5/26): Explore Buffalo Trace Distillery history with From the Archives – an open house event from noon–2pm with Lead Archivist Nick Laracuente, featuring John G. Carlisle Cafe historical highlights and a curated archives display on the second floor of the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse.
• Wednesday (5/13, 5/20, 5/27): Enjoy Whiskey Wednesdays with complimentary samples of a new, soon-to-be-announced release served all day. Bottles will also be available for purchase in the Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop (limited quantities available).
• Thursday (5/14, 5/21, 5/28): Connect with the Distillery’s craftsmen through Meet the Masters – a limited, one hour meet and greet opportunity happening inside the John G. Carlisle Cafe.
  • 5/14: Harlen Wheatley – Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller
  • 5/21: Danny Kahn – Master Distiller & Distillation/Aging Operations Director
  • 5/28: Drew Mayville – Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Blender
• Friday (5/15, 5/22, 5/29): Savor Freddie Fridays featuring complimentary Freddie’s Old-Fashioned Soda products available in the John G. Carlisle Cafe, plus special appearances by Global Brand Ambassador Freddie Johnson.
• Saturday (5/16, 5/23, 5/30): Experience Sippin’ Saturday featuring seasonal, limited-time cocktails in the Carlisle Cafe from noon-2pm, plus a Buffalo Trace Bourbon-infused Rebecca Ruth’s chocolate pairing.
• Sunday (5/17, 5/24, 5/31): Delight in Grain & Glass featuring complimentary breakfast bites from 11am-noon, including complimentary tastings of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain.

“As we introduce the John G. Carlisle Cafe, our team is committed to delivering a terrific experience,” said Adams. “We encourage guests to plan extra time for their next visit and thank them for their patience as we welcome visitors into the space for the first time.”

Originally constructed in 1935, the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse was designed as a welcoming gathering place for meals, celebrations and community at the Distillery. Over the decades, the lower level served as a cafeteria, breakroom and company event venue, hosting everything from holiday gatherings to visits from national dignitaries. Today, that spirit of connection continues through the John G. Carlisle Cafe, named in tribute of the influential politician whose leadership helped secure passage of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.

To honor Carlisle’s support of industry, Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. built two distilleries in 1879 – one of which he named the Carlisle Distillery. Situated alongside Taylor’s O.F.C. Distillery, the Carlisle Distillery produced Kentucky River Whiskey and Carlisle Whiskey until Prohibition. Although the Carlisle Distillery was demolished in 1936, its legacy – as well as the legacy of the namesake – lives on in the reimagined space.

The John G. Carlisle Cafe opens May 11, 2026. Hours of operation are Monday-Sunday from 11am – 3pm. For more information about the Carlisle Cafe, and the lineup of daily offerings, please visit buffalotracedistillery.com/visit-us/cafe.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery  

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site. The Distillery has won more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 and garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. Its William Larue Weller, Stagg, Eagle Rare 10, and Thomas H. Handy received Gold Awards at the 2025 International Wine & Spirits Competition and its flagship Buffalo Trace Bourbon received a Master Medal at the 2025 Global American Whiskey Masters. Buffalo Trace Distillery has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

Elixir Distillers

Tormore 2003 Legacy Casks #647

ABV: 48.4% 70 cL

Tormore, built in 1960 on the edge of the Cairngorms in Speyside, is one of Scotland’s most striking distilleries, known for its modernist architecture and landscaped grounds. It produces a light, fruity, and gently floral style single malt, often showing notes of apple, citrus, soft malt sweetness, and a clean, crisp finish. Long used mainly for blending, Tormore’s spirit has gained more attention in recent years for its elegant, easy-drinking Speyside character and its visually iconic distillery setting.

The Calvados Edition

Indulge in the rare allure of this Epicurean Limited Edition where the floral Lowland Malts of Scotland meet the orchard notes of Calvados, from the Normandy region of Northern France. By artfully finishing The Epicurean in the finest Calvados casks, we elevate the already fresh, vibrant and citrusy flavour profile to new heights.

Nose: Fresh and vibrant with zesty citrus, crisp apple drops.

Palate: Sweet, juicy pears dominate the palate, complemented by smooth, creamy toffee.

Finish: The finish is elegant and lingering, with mellow citrus and apple gradually fading into a gentle warmth.

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Glen Grant 2008 18 Year Old, North Star Series 27

£99.99

Distilled in March 2008 and bottled in March 2026, this 18 year old Glen Grant single malt whisky was released as part of North Star Spirits Series 27. One of 184 bottles produced. Un-chill filtered and presented at natural colour.

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

Ardnamurchan Paul Launois 2021 vs 2026

THE VIDEO

I’ve been wanting to do this for ages, now the time has arrived! What is arguably one of the most in-demand and complex bottles of single malt sold on the market, here we have Ardnamurchan Paul Launois.

A small batch single malt that has been produced with the use of American and French Oak influences, along with being bottled at cask strength.

A flavour profile that morphs between sweet, sugary, herbaceous, botanical, buttery, orchard fruits, powerfully dry and then coming back around to remind of rum & raisin ice cream in a summer blushed garden.

It’s no secret that I’ve been a massive fan of this distillery since buying the first bottle they ever released, seeing what they’ve created and released makes me so happy. The west coast mainland of Scotland has been sparse with whisky distilleries for a long time, now we have some absolute gems amongst the rugged terrain.

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RAISING A DRAM TO SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY FESTIVAL’S 

RECORD-BREAKING YEAR

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has announced over £500k of sales for the first time in its history.  Almost 60 events were completely sold out on day one, including the renowned ceilidh on Friday night.

Celebrating its 27th anniversary, Speyside is widely regarded as the spiritual home of whisky, with a third of the distilleries. Established as one of the world’s largest showcases of whisky, partner members grew and helped promote over 600 events across 6 days, from 29th April, contributing millions to the local economy.

On launch day back in February, nearly 7,000 tickets were sold with visitors descending on Speyside from all over the globe and contributing to over 60% of ticket sales.  Customers from Mexico, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Canada showcased the diversity of geographic locations.

With over 600 events, the festival is a time when a number of distilleries, that normally don’t open their doors, invite visitors to explore their facilities, making it a unique experience for festival goers.  12 distilleries including Tormore, Craigellachie and Dalmunach welcomed visitors behind closed doors and proved to be some of the most popular events.  Highlights also included a diversity of events.  A falconry display with Tormore, a canoe trip down the River Spey and Glenlivet hosted a silent disco where guests could also enjoy expressions of their 12-year-old single malt.

Chairman of the Festival, Henry Angus said, “There has never been a more important year for us to support the whisky sector.  With whisky sales declining, but festival sales increasing, our ability to draw thousands of visitors to Speyside is vital to the local economy.  We’re extremely proud to have broken all records again this year and to prove that we are creating a world-class calendar of events with wide appeal.  The festival has become an old friend to so many year after year.  There are some incredible opportunities, some of which are unique, leaving visitors to feel like they’ve been part of something truly magical.  There’s nothing quite like it.”

Spirit of Speyside organisers have also announced that Distilled, the food and drink festival normally held annually is back after a hiatus this September.  Bringing together top producers from Speyside region it will showcase local whisky, gin, beer, and food, offering tastings, masterclasses, and experiences.  Due to be held at UHI Moray in Elgin on Friday 11th & Saturday 12th September, 2026.

FESTIVAL WINNERS –  

Ambassador – David Craig

International Ambassador – Matthew Cordiner, Bacardi Global Brands

Unsung Heroes – Raymond Davidson, Glencairn Glass, Angela McOwan, Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Spirit of Speyside Award – David Stewart, William Grant & Sons

Whisky Award winners:

Gold, 12 years old and under: Aberlour 12 YO
Gold, 13–17 years: Craigellachie 17 YO – Spirit of Speyside Single Cask Limited Edition
Gold, 18 years and over: Tamdhu 21 YO
Gold, non-age statement: Tamdhu Distinction III Speyside Single Malt
Overall winner, 2026 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards: Tamdhu 21 YO

www.spiritofspeyside.com

The 179th auction is now live!

Welcome one and all to our now live 179^th auction!  Summer is on the horizon and I don’t know about you but that’s put a spring my step, time to restock the drinks cabinet for the cocktail onslaught which is about to ensue.  We have some tremendous bottles in this month and with well over five thousand lots you’ll have plenty to choose from.

Well, this really is something very special.

Finn Thomson, a bottler with deep connections to Scottish whisky history, in celebration of Scotland’s return to the World Cup in 2026 has collaborated with Scotland Captain Andrew Robertson’s AR26 charity to present this Glen Garioch 1998 28 Year Old Finn Thomson AR26 Charity Bottling with Andrew Robertson MBE Portrait.   Not only does the winning buyer receive a delicious looking 28 year old single cask Glen Garioch, this lot also contains an original artwork of Robertson by Mark Sib, a celebrated figure in Scottish contemporary art known for his emotive depictions of sporting icons.

100% of the proceeds will be going directly to AR26 Charity whose stated aim is “to create chances for children and young people across Scotland—closing the gap on disadvantage and levelling the playing field.”

For the final word let’s leave it to our Captain:

“This is a special opportunity to bring together two things that represent Scotland so well—our football and our whisky—while raising funds for a cause that means a great deal to me and my family. Every bid will help create real opportunities for young people across the country.

Next up we have another stunning piece of art, this is the Karuizawa 40 Year Old Blue Geisha.  Distilled way back in 1974 long before the distillery finally closed its doors for the last time this fantastic 40 year old is one of only 192 bottles released and has a visually striking label featuring the eponymous Blue Geisha.

Our next bottle is one that always turns (sherry)heads everywhere it goes, this is the GlenDronach 1971 43 Year Old Single Cask #2920.  Again, this dram was distilled in the early Seventies and spent over four decades ageing in a single Pedro Ximenez Pucheon before finally being bottled in 2014.  One of only 523 bottles produced this is a bucket list dram for sure.

Finally, we have a very rare bottling from one of Scotland’s northernly distilleries, this is the Highland Park 1967 42 Year Old John Scott’s.  In late 2003, the firm of John Scott & Miller Ltd released two extremely limited bottlings of ‘Highland Park’, under its own ‘John Scott’s’ label.  This belter of a dram is over four decades aged and hails from cask #6282 which was the fifth and final bottling in the John Scott’s range of Highland Park.As always we have an enormous selection of drams to suit every budget on offer this month, so now is the time to delve into this month’s offerings and start building that watchlist.

Best of luck to everyone in the auction, and as always………..don’t lose your bottle.

Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask 2026 Release

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

Scotch vs Bourbon? Let’s Compare

Scotch. Bourbon. Iconic whiskies. With all the confusion surrounding their differences we’re diving into what sets one apart from the other. Scotch can only come from Scotland, Bourbon only from the USA, with single malt Scotch using only malted barley and Bourbon a corn-led mash bill. Scotch is predominantly aged in reused oak casks while Bourbon must be aged in new, charred oak casks.

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