Buffalo Trace Distillery sits on 130 acres in Frankfort, Kentucky, where bourbon has been produced continuously since 1787 on what’s known as the most award-winning distillery in the world. The site operates as both a working distillery and a National Historic Landmark, with 12 massive red brick warehouses aging over 50,000 barrels of bourbon at any given time. Founded by Colonel Albert Blanton in the early 1900s as what was then called George T. Stagg Distillery, it survived Prohibition by producing medicinal whiskey and emerged as one of Kentucky’s most storied bourbon producers. Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley oversees production here, bringing decades of experience to craft everything from their flagship Buffalo Trace bourbon to experimental wheated whiskeys and limited releases that have bourbon collectors camping out for bottles. The operation runs 24/7 during production season, with massive copper stills working around the clock in buildings that have witnessed over two centuries of American whiskey making. You’re walking through living bourbon history here, where they’ve perfected techniques that other distilleries are still trying to figure out.