Buffalo Trace Tour Reservations: How to Actually Get One

First fact: Buffalo Trace Distillery’s tours are free. They are booked only on buffalotracedistillery.com — there is no phone booking, no third-party seller, and no upcharge. New dates drop eight weeks ahead at 10:00 a.m. EST on Wednesdays. The Hard Hat Tour is typically gone in under two minutes. If you missed the drop, walk-up spots exist but are not guaranteed, and the gift shop runs complimentary guided tastings daily with no reservation needed.

Free toursTrace (75 min), Old Taylor (75 min), Hard Hat (105 min)

How to bookbuffalotracedistillery.com only

Release dayWednesdays, 10:00 a.m. EST

WindowEight weeks in advance

Hard Hat selloutUsually under 2 minutes

Fallback optionGift shop complimentary tasting, no reservation

Planning your visit?Timed slots are limited, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. Reserve today, decide later.

Check ticket availability

The Wednesday morning scramble

The distillery releases new tour dates eight weeks out, every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. EST. If you have flexibility, set a phone reminder. Slots sell fast — the Hard Hat Tour, which goes inside the working production warehouse and lets you sample straight from the barrel, is gone in under two minutes on most Wednesdays. The Trace Tour and Old Taylor Tour linger longer but still fill early in the day. Booking on time means you get your pick; booking late means you get what’s left, if anything.

What happens if the dates sell out

If you miss the Wednesday drop or the dates you want are gone, you have two options. The first is walk-up spots: the distillery sometimes releases a limited number of same-day reservations on the day itself, but they are not guaranteed and are gone early. The second is the gift shop. Every day the distillery is open, they run complimentary guided tastings at the gift shop in 1881 Warehouse A. No reservation. No cost. You walk in, meet a bourbon host, and taste four pours. It is not the tour, but it is the next best thing, and nobody has to scramble for it.

What you cannot do

You cannot call the distillery to book. You cannot book through a third-party website or travel agent. You cannot book through GetYourGuide (we are not affiliated with the distillery; we book the paid tours around it). Anyone charging you a “booking fee” for a Buffalo Trace tour is selling you a lie. The tours are free at the source.

If you cannot get a tour

Getting to Buffalo Trace without a tour reservation is still worth your time. The grounds are open during business hours, the gift shop is accessible, and the complimentary tasting is real bourbon. If you are in Frankfort already, see how to visit without a reservation. If you are coming from Louisville or Lexington, the paid tour operators will get you there, fill the rest of the day, and get you back. Three of them (the Thursday Bourbon Trail day trip, the private Frankfort day, and the three-distillery tour) actually visit Buffalo Trace, so you get the distillery and the transport together.

Check availability & book

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on most tours — book now, decide later.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a Buffalo Trace tour reservation?

Only on buffalotracedistillery.com. New dates drop at 10:00 a.m. EST on Wednesdays, eight weeks ahead. No phone booking, no third-party sellers.

How long do tours take to sell out?

The Hard Hat Tour is usually gone in under two minutes. The Trace Tour and Old Taylor Tour linger longer but still fill early. Set a phone reminder for 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

What if I miss the Wednesday release?

Walk-up spots exist but are not guaranteed. The gift shop runs free guided tastings daily without reservation, or book a paid tour operator to reach the distillery and get transport in one trip.

Can I book through GetYourGuide or a travel agent?

No. Only buffalotracedistillery.com. We book the paid tours around the distillery, not the distillery’s own tours.

Are the Buffalo Trace tours really free?

Yes. The Trace Tour, Old Taylor Tour, and Hard Hat Tour are complimentary. There is no upcharge and no premium tier. If someone is charging you, they are not selling you a Buffalo Trace tour.