For anyone who's ever wanted to sit down with a real bourbon expert and go through a proper tasting without hopping a flight to Kentucky, there's good news. Buffalo Trace Distillery just announced it's bringing back its traveling tasting event, called Buffalo Trace Distillery On Tour, for a second run this fall. This time it's hitting four cities across Missouri, Colorado and Texas, and three of those stops are brand new.
Buffalo Trace calls itself the World's Most Award-Winning Distillery, and this tour is basically their way of packing up a piece of that experience and driving it out to fans who can't make the trip to Frankfort, Kentucky. Last year's tour apparently did well enough that the distillery decided to expand it, mixing a returning city with a few fresh markets.
Where The Tour Is Stopping This Year
The 2026 tour will make stops in Branson, Missouri; Kansas City, Missouri; Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas; and Denver, Colorado. Here's the full schedule:
- Branson, Missouri at Big Cedar Lodge – October 1-4
- Kansas City, Missouri at The Bauer – October 8-11
- Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas at The Laurel – October 14-17
- Denver, Colorado at Church Ranch Event Center – November 12-15
Each stop runs for four days, and the distillery is offering 14 total tasting sessions per city, split between afternoon and evening time slots so people with different schedules have a shot at getting in.
What Actually Happens At A Tasting Session
This isn't just a quick sip-and-go setup. Each session is a guided tasting that runs about 75 minutes, led by hosts who know the brands inside and out. Guests get walked through four different pours, and along the way they learn about the mashbills, the tasting notes, how each whiskey was aged, and what makes each one different from the next.
The lineup for this year's tour includes some serious heavy hitters: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare 10 Year Old, Weller Antique 107, and the newer Sazerac Rye 100 Proof. That's a solid spread for guys who already know their way around a whiskey glass, but it's also approachable enough for someone just getting into bourbon and wanting to learn what separates a wheated bourbon from a rye, or why age statements matter.
Erica Bovard, Senior Brand Director at Buffalo Trace Distillery, explained the thinking behind bringing the tour back. "The heart of Buffalo Trace Distillery On Tour is bringing Buffalo Trace closer to our fans and creating more opportunities for them to experience the Distillery beyond Frankfort," she said. "We were thrilled by the response to last year's tour and are excited to build on that momentum by returning to familiar markets and reaching new ones. It is a chance to share our whiskeys, our stories and the craftsmanship behind them with the people who make Buffalo Trace what it is."
There's Merchandise Too, And It's Limited
Beyond the tasting itself, each stop has its own exclusive retail setup featuring custom barware designed specifically for that city. So the gear from the Branson stop won't look like the gear from the Denver stop. It's a nice touch for anyone who likes collecting bourbon-related items or just wants a souvenir that actually means something, rather than a generic logo cup. Buffalo Trace made a point of noting that supplies are limited, so if barware collecting is part of the appeal, showing up early in the event window probably isn't a bad idea.
Why The Distillery Is Doing This
Ed Bell, Sazerac Homeplace Director, put it simply when talking about what this tour is really about. "Some of the best memories are made around a table, sharing a sip of Buffalo Trace Bourbon with people you enjoy," he said. "The response to our first On Tour showed us there's something meaningful about creating those moments outside the Distillery, and we're excited to do it again in new locations. Whether guests are longtime Buffalo Trace fans or just beginning to explore bourbon, we hope they leave having discovered more of what makes Buffalo Trace Distillery and its brands so special."
That comment captures what this event seems to be aiming for. It's not just a marketing stunt or a product showcase. It's built around the idea that bourbon tastes better when it's shared, whether that's with old friends, family, or people you just met in line waiting to get into the tasting room.
How To Get Tickets
Here's the part that matters most if you actually want to go: tickets are free, but you have to reserve a spot ahead of time. Registration opens on Wednesday, September 2 at 10 a.m. ET, which is 9 a.m. Central time. Each person can grab up to four tickets, so it works fine for a small group of buddies or a couple planning a night out.
One thing to keep in mind: you have to be 21 or older to attend, which makes sense given the subject matter. Buffalo Trace has also warned that spots are limited and expected to fill up fast, so anyone interested should probably have their calendar reminder set for registration day rather than waiting a few days to sign up. Tickets can be found through the official Buffalo Trace Distillery On Tour website once registration opens.
A Little Background On Buffalo Trace Distillery
For anyone less familiar with the brand, Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned American company based out of Frankfort, Kentucky, with roots that go all the way back to 1775. It's not just an old name either. The property is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and sits on the National Register of Historic Places, which says something about how much history is baked into the place.
Over the years, the distillery has been shaped by some legendary figures in the whiskey world, including E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee, names that longtime bourbon fans will likely recognize. The distillery is still fully operational today, producing bourbon, rye, and vodka on-site.
As for the awards mentioned earlier, the numbers back it up. Buffalo Trace Distillery has picked up more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 and has racked up over 1,000 awards across its various whiskies. Some of its top releases, including William Larue Weller, Stagg, Eagle Rare 10, and Thomas H. Handy, took home Gold Awards at the 2025 International Wine & Spirits Competition. Its flagship Buffalo Trace Bourbon also earned a Master Medal at the 2025 Global American Whiskey Masters, which is no small feat given how competitive that category has become.
The distillery is also involved in charitable work, and nonprofit organizations interested in partnering with them can register directly through the distillery's website.
The Bottom Line
For anyone in or near Missouri, Colorado, or Texas who enjoys bourbon or is just curious enough to learn more, this tour is a rare chance to get a genuine, guided tasting experience without the cost of a plane ticket or hotel in Kentucky. It's free, it's hosted by people who clearly know the product, and it comes with the kind of exclusive merchandise that tends to disappear fast once word gets around.
Given how quickly things went last year, and the fact that registration is capped at four tickets per person, this is one of those events where waiting around probably isn't the best strategy. Mark September 2 on the calendar, get the tickets locked in, and start planning which city stop fits best with the schedule.
