Which Buffalo Trace Tour is Best? Trace vs. Old Taylor vs. Hard Hat
Planning your visit?Timed slots are limited, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. Reserve today, decide later.
Check ticket availabilityThe Trace Tour: the standard
This is the default if you slot into a Wednesday release. 75 minutes, open to all ages (though under-21s cannot taste). You see the barrel warehouses, visit a bottling line, learn the Buffalo Trace story, and end with a complimentary guided tasting at the gift shop. Most people start here because it is available most often and it gives you the full distillery story in one trip. Nothing is wrong with this tour. Thousands choose it for good reason. The only reason to skip it is if you have a specific reason to pick one of the others.
The Old Taylor Tour: the specialist
This tour narrows the focus to one man’s story: Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr., the 19th-century distiller who pioneered warehousing, quality control, and the idea that bourbon could have a signature and a reputation. It is 75 minutes, same length as the Trace Tour, and ends the same way (tastings in the gift shop). You still see the grounds, but the story is tighter. Pick this if you care about bourbon history more than production, or if you are returning and want a different angle. It is harder to get than the Trace Tour but does not disappear as fast as the Hard Hat.
The Hard Hat Tour: the production tour
This is the 105-minute tour inside working production. You go into Rackhouse F, see barrels aging, learn why the Kentucky climate changes the liquid so fast, and sample straight from three different barrels to hear what age does to taste. You are inside a working warehouse full of bourbon, which is why this one sells out in under two minutes. It is 30 minutes longer than the Trace Tour and twice as hard to get. It is not suitable for under-21s. Book this if you want to understand production. Book the Trace Tour if you want the full story fast.
Which one sells out first?
The Hard Hat Tour. It is usually gone in under two minutes. The Trace and Old Taylor Tours linger through the morning, often until afternoon. If you have a Wednesday 10:00 a.m. slot and can refresh your browser that second, aim for the Hard Hat. If you are refreshing five minutes later, pick the Trace Tour.
What to do when your first choice is gone
If the Hard Hat is sold out, the Trace Tour is still available. If both are sold out by the time you check, the gift shop tasting needs no reservation and runs every day. Or book a paid tour operator who includes Buffalo Trace in their day (the Thursday Bourbon Trail, the private Frankfort day, or the three-distillery custom tour all visit the distillery).
Frequently asked questions
Which Buffalo Trace tour should I book?
The Trace Tour if you want the full story fast. The Hard Hat if you want to understand production and can catch the 10:00 a.m. release. The Old Taylor if you care about bourbon history and Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. specifically.
Do all three tours have the same tasting?
The tasting is the same — complimentary, guided, four pours at the gift shop in 1881 Warehouse A. The difference is which part of the distillery you see first.
Which tour sells out fastest?
The Hard Hat Tour. Usually in under two minutes. If you miss it, the Trace Tour is still available in the same Wednesday release.
Can I do two tours in one day?
The distillery does not allow it. You book one tour. But you can always visit the gift shop on a different day and get the complimentary tasting if you did not have time or want to taste again.
Which tour is hardest to get?
The Hard Hat Tour. It is the only one inside working production, and the limit is smaller. If you have time flexibility, use it on Hard Hat Wednesdays.