Buffalo Trace is defying the global downturn in whiskey sales and reporting double digit growth as fans flock to get their hands on the brand.

Buffalo Trace whiskies are in such demand that the distiller can’t keep up, despite having just completed a 10-year $1.2 billion expansion that doubled its distilling capacity.

Buffalo Trace Master distiller Harlen Wheatley told the Lexington Herald: “Fortunately, and unfortunately, each and every brand is still on allocation. We still could make more … and sell more. We’re just getting started.”

Last week, Buffalo Trace Distillery filled its nine millionth barrel of bourbon since Prohibition. This historic accomplishment comes on the heels of Buffalo Trace completing its decade long, $1.2 billion expansion project earlier this year.

“The filling of our nine millionth barrel represents a historic chapter in the Distillery’s story, which began more than two centuries ago and is still being written today,” said Wheatley.

“This milestone is exciting not just because we are producing more whiskey than ever before, but because every barrel filled ensures that generations to come will be able to enjoy the same quality and craftsmanship that has defined the Distillery since the 1850’s.”

Bourbon distilling at the site now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery dates back to the 1770s, with formal operations beginning in the 1850s. During Prohibition, the George T. Stagg Distillery (as it was then known) remained one of the few allowed to produce whiskey for medicinal purposes, but official barrel counting began in 1933. Since then, the Distillery has celebrated multiple millionth barrel milestones – the first in 1942, followed by 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 2008, 2018, 2022 and now 2025.

“Since official barrel counting began in 1933, each millionth barrel milestone has marked more than just a number: they stand as symbols of heritage, resilience and the timeless pursuit of excellence in bourbon,” said Wheatley.

“The Distillery’s resilience was proven once again during the historic flood this past April which touched 90% of the campus. I’m proud of the team for their hard work to ensure Buffalo Trace recovered quickly – after just a few short months we’re 100% back open, operational and welcoming visitors.”

The nine millionth marks a particularly significant chapter in Buffalo Trace Distillery’s history. In 2015, Sazerac initiated a $1.2 billion expansion project that touched nearly every facet of operations – from a new distribution centre, bottling operation, upgraded cistern room and new boiler, dry, mill and still houses to 20 new fermentation tanks, three steam boilers and 19 new aging warehouses. Completed in January 2025, the project has increased the Distillery’s production capacity by 150%.

And it’s producing award-winning results. Buffalo Trace’s W.L. Weller Antique 107 garnered 99 points at the 2025 London Spirits Competition, placing first among all whiskeys and winning Spirit of the Year. 

Tough times for bourbon industry

IWSR Drinks Market Analysis shows a 2% downturn in domestic bourbon sales volume from 2023 to 2024, while globally, sales volume was flat from 2023 to 2024.

There have been dozens of craft distillery closures across the United States, including Kentucky Owl and Uncle Nearest, while production has been paused at numerous distilleries, including George Dickel and Balcones.

Kentucky alone currently stores over 14.3 million ageing barrels of whiskey, an oversupply that is reshaping the market. 

IWSR forecasts a stagnant bourbon market domestically, with a projected 0% CAGR volume change for the category through 2029. Global sales are projected to have a slight uptick, with a 1% CAGR volume growth through 2029.