🐟 The Buffalo Trace Flood: Even the Fish Couldn't Resist a Good Pour

It’s not every day you hear about a whiskey flood — but last week in Frankfort, Kentucky, it rained like the sky had an overdue bar tab. 🌧️🥃
The mighty Kentucky River swelled up fast, climbed right over its banks, and made a beeline for one of bourbon’s holiest grounds: Buffalo Trace Distillery.

And no, this wasn’t just some puddle you splash through in your Sunday boots.
This was a full-on, “grab your best bottle and pray” kind of flood. 🌊🥃

The historic grounds turned into something between a distillery and a giant Kentucky Aquarium.

• Rickhouses and aging barrels? Safe and sound (thank the bourbon gods). 🙌

• Lower property, visitor parking lots, and parts of the riverside landscaping? Underwater and looking a little soggy.

🐠 The Great Fish Invasion of 2025

About 250 pounds of fish got swept right out of the river and into Buffalo Trace’s flooded front yard.
The "guest list" for this impromptu bourbon bash included:

• Bigmouth Buffalo (not the buddy who drinks half your bottle without chipping in — an actual fish)

• Channel Catfish (all whiskers and no worries)

• Smallmouth Buffalo (my personal favorite — fast, slick, and proud to call the Kentucky River home) 🎣🐠

Rescue crews showed up armed with nets, rubber boots, grit, and probably a few chuckles, rounding up the slippery little visitors and helping them find their way back to deeper waters.

I like to imagine a few of those fish posted up at the Buffalo Trace bar, ordering a double pour of Eagle Rare, swapping flood stories, and deciding who had the best tail-fin escape. 🍻🐟

🛠️ So... What's the Long-Term Impact for Buffalo Trace?

Good news:

• ✅ No whiskey was harmed.

• ✅ No rickhouses were flooded.

• ✅ No production interruptions were reported.

Buffalo Trace’s riverfront landscaping and parking areas took the brunt of it. So the real cleanup list looks like:

• 🛠️ Landscape repairs around the visitor center and the river’s edge

• 🛠️ Parking lot restoration where the waters washed through

• 🛠️ Temporary adjustments for tours and visitor traffic while things dry out

• 🛠️ Maybe even a few brand-new “No Fishing” signs popping up soon. 🎣😂

Look—Buffalo Trace has survived wars, fires, Prohibition, and more presidential visits than a D.C. steakhouse.
A little high water? That’s just another page in their 200-year playbook.

Bottom line:

• 🥃 Your bourbon’s safe.

• 🎟️ Your tours are still rolling.

• 🐟 And the fish? They’re back home, probably bragging to their river buddies about the best distillery swim ever.

🤔 Like Me, You Might Have Some Questions:

• Did those fish get scrubbed clean afterward? 🧼

• If they did, I hope it was with Buffalo Trace Shower Gel and a splash of Buffalo Trace Whiskey Soap for good luck.

• And if any "escaped" the rescue? Well, Buffalo Trace does make whiskey-flavored BBQ Sauce, whiskey flavored Seasoning and Hot Sauce... just sayin'. 🍖🔥

🥃 The Weekly Pour: Blanton’s Single Barrel Red Takara Japanese Bourbon

If bourbon had a passport, this bottle would have more stamps than a rock band on tour. 🎸🎤

Blanton’s Red Takara is a rare and beautiful twist on the classic Blanton’s you know and love.
It’s still made at the iconic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky—right along the Kentucky River where legends (and apparently fish) roam free. 🏞️

But this version was crafted specifically for the Japanese market, where bourbon fans appreciate a pour that leans silkier, sweeter, and softer without losing its rich backbone.

Here’s what makes it stand out:

✅ Extra-smooth sip — richer vanilla, deeper caramel, and a hint of toasted oak.
✅ Bottled at 46.5% ABV — a little bolder than standard Blanton’s, but still buttery and balanced.
✅ Unique Japanese packaging — a custom-cut glass bottle with an elegant, treasure-chest vibe, and a beautifully simple label made for collectors.

Blanton’s Red Takara is like taking the soul of Kentucky and giving it a silk kimono, a first-class seat to Tokyo, and a welcome toast at the bar. 🇯🇵🥃

Where to snag a bottle: 👉 Buy Blanton’s Red Takara Japanese Bourbon Here

Heads up: It’s a limited international release—so getting your hands on one feels a little like catching a river fish with a golden hook. 🎣🥃

🍸 The Art of Mixing: Kyoto Gold Rush

Simple. Fresh. Bright enough to show off the bourbon’s polish.

Recipe:

• 2 oz Blanton’s Red Takara

• 3/4 oz yuzu juice (or fresh lemon juice if you’re stateside)

• 3/4 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey + hot water)

Shake it all up, strain into a rocks glass over a big cube, and garnish with a lemon twist. 🍋
It’s dangerously easy to sip—and dangerously easy to make another.

🍴Flavor Pairing Picks: A Fish Worth Fryin’

After that Buffalo Trace fish rescue, it’s only fair we honor our finned friends properly.

Menu:

• 🐟 Grilled Smallmouth Buffalo Fillets – brushed with lemon butter and dusted with smoked paprika

• 🍖 Pulled Pork Sandwiches slathered in Buffalo Trace Whiskey BBQ Sauce

• 🌶️ Crispy Wings dunked in Buffalo Trace Whiskey Hot Sauce

• 🚬 Cigar Pairing: Ashton Classic or a light-bodied Connecticut Shade cigar

The smallmouth buffalo is tender, mild, and meaty—perfect for the grill or a pan fry.
(Pro tip: Marinate in a whiskey-honey glaze for a few hours before tossing it on the grill. You'll thank me later.)

📚🥃 BIG NEWS: My New Book “50 States of Whiskey” Just Dropped—and It’s Already #1 on Amazon For Its Category!

After years of sipping, spitting, traveling, and arguing with bartenders, I finally bottled it up.

📖 Formats Built for Every Kind of Sipper:

• Hardcover: $58.91 — rugged enough to survive a whiskey spill or a tumble off your bar cart. 🍂

• Kindle Edition: $1.99 (for now) — cheaper than a sad gas station coffee. ☕ (Grab it before the angel's share claims the deal!)

👉 Get Your Copy Here — before this limited Kindle deal evaporates faster than whiskey in a Kentucky summer.

🗺️ Whether you’re hunting for the best pour in your backyard or your next vacation, this book’s the only map you need.

🗺️ What’s Inside?

✅ The BEST bottle from each of the 50 states—crowned after real, boots-on-the-ground sipping.
✅ True stories behind the pours—no boring tasting notes, just the legends, mishaps, and magic that make whiskey worth drinking.
✅ Insider gems you won’t find in the tourist brochures (trust me, some of my best finds were behind unmarked doors).
✅ Perfect if you’re building your dream home bar, planning a whiskey-themed road trip, or just love sipping on a good story.

🥃 Why You’ll Want This Book on Your Shelf (or in Your Glass)

This isn’t just a list of bottles. It’s a map of American craftsmanship, rebellion, patience, and pure liquid luck.
Every chapter is a toast to the spirit-makers, the risk-takers, and the dream-chasers who poured their hearts into every bottle.

I wrote this because whiskey isn’t just what’s in the glass.
It’s the story you tell when you raise it. 🥃🔥

If you’ve ever loved a pour enough to chase down its story—or if you just want to be the person at the party who actually knows where that amazing bottle came from—
this book is your new secret weapon.

🍻 A Final Toast:

"May your glass be full, your shelf be heavy, and your road always lead to a great pour." 🛤️🥃

🥃 Big Lesson This Week:

The tides can turn fast. But whether you're a fish, a bourbon lover, or a stranded smallmouth—know this: if you're gonna get swept away, you might as well end up somewhere good.

Loved this river-runnin' whiskey tale?
👉 Save it.
👉 Star it for next pour night.
👉 Share it with a buddy who needs a fishy, funny bourbon story.

Until our next glass together,
Ethan "Neat" Whitmore

P.S. Coming Next week (finally): Hype vs. Sip — Celebrity whiskey winners and losers. 🍾🔥 No fluff, no fancy pants — just straight pours and straight talk. Don't miss it!