Buffalo Trace to Auction Off Ultra-Rare Whiskeys to Aid Kentucky Storm Victims

In April and May, two devastating weather events ripped through Kentucky, upending thousands of lives and livelihoods. To support the victims, Buffalo Trace and its partners have announced a fundraiser that will offer up some of its rarest bottles, along with once-in-a-lifetime experiences and trips. 

Winners can walk away with prizes ranging from a full Pappy Van Winkle collection to a behind-the-scenes set visit to a new Yellowstone sequel. The fundraiser, in partnership with the online platform BlockBar, will donate 100% of the proceeds to Kentucky victims affected by severe weather in April and May. And we’ve got a first look at what’s up for bidding.

The “Pour it Forward for Kentucky” Charity Fundraiser goes live on Thursday, May 22nd at 8 a.m. ET and continues until 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 5th. Proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross and the Franklin County Flood Relief Fund/Blue Grass Community Foundation, two organizations providing support for those most impacted by recent severe weather, including a tornado and extreme flooding. 

Buffalo Trace, based in Frankfort, was significantly affected by flooding in early April of this year, when heavy rainfall struck Central Kentucky. Shortly after, images went viral showing the distillery and visitors center submerged under several feet of rainwater.

The facility suspended operations for nearly a week until power was restored and debris was cleared from critical areas, including bottling. Seven fatalities were reported across the Bluegrass State due to the flooding, and thousands of residents faced varying degrees of damage to their homes, ranging from moderate to catastrophic. 

Then, on May 16, severe thunderstorms swept through Southern Kentucky. One tornado that touched down near London, Kentucky, was classified as an EF-4 and measured nearly a mile wide. Nineteen people lost their lives, and the total number of displaced individuals, along with the full extent of the damage, is still being assessed.  

“The recent spring storms have had a profound impact on communities across Kentucky and, especially in times like these, it’s essential that we rally people to support our neighbors in need,” says Jake Wenz, president and CEO at Sazerac and Buffalo Trace Distillery. “Buffalo Trace remains committed to supporting our home state, and every bid placed is a step toward helping our community recover.”

The “Pour It Forward for Kentucky” campaign aims to raise funds for victims of both natural disasters via an online auction and sweepstakes. Partners contributing prizes include the Van Winkle family, Chris and Morgane Stapleton, PGA, and AGE International. Bidding on auction items — partially listed below — begins at $100 and can be accessed here.

• A Sazerac Barrel Select experience where winners can choose and purchase a barrel of Blanton’s Gold. It includes a VIP tour and a one-night stay at Stagg Lodge.  
• Some of the rarest and most sought-after bottles from Buffalo Trace, including Weller Millennium, Eagle Rare 25, and O.F.C. Vintage 2005.  
• Complete annual bourbon sets, including the Pappy Van Winkle collection, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and the 2024 Prohibition Collection.
• An E.H. Taylor Jr. bottle lineup.  
• A bottle of Double Eagle Very Rare, along with a hand-crafted coffee table made from a former Double Eagle Very Rare barrel by the Buffalo Trace Whiskey Woodcraft team. 
• Several items from Chris & Morgane Stapleton’s “Outlaw State of Kind” charitable fund, which include an Epiphone Hummingbird Studio guitar, exclusive merchandise, and a bottle of Traveller Whiskey. Each item is personally autographed by Chris Stapleton.  
• An all-expense-paid trip for two to Fort Worth, TX. Guests will get a behind-the-scenes look at the 101 Studios set of Y: Marshals, the upcoming Yellowstone spinoff featuring Luke Grimes.

Participants in the sweepstakes portion — accessible here — will receive one entry for every $50 donated through the site, with no individual donation cap. The two prize packages for the sweepstakes are listed below.

• An exclusive PGA package, which includes a PGA certificate for four people to play a round of golf at the PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, along with two Buffalo Trace Bettinardi golf putters.  
• The opportunity to purchase one bottle of O.F.C. Vintage 2006. 

Sazerac-owned Buffalo Trace is a National Historic Landmark that produces American whiskey under various labels, including E.H. Taylor, Jr., Weller, Sazerac, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and the Van Winkle Collection. With origins tracing back well before the 19th century, it was one of only a handful of American distilleries licensed to operate during Prohibition.

Launched in 2021, BlockBar is a platform that enables customers to buy, sell, gift, and store wines and spirits sourced directly from producers, with products authenticated through blockchain.

The “Pour it Forward for Kentucky” campaign — including both auction and sweepstakes — runs from May 22nd until June 5th.