The Industry Honors Kentucky's Best: Buffalo Trace Distillery Named '2005 Distiller of the Year' by Whisky Magazine

    FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ky., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- An international audience
 has spoken and Buffalo Trace Distillery was named "2005 Distiller of the Year"
 by Whisky Magazine at the annual "Icons of Whisky" dinner held in London,
 England, Thursday, March 10th in conjunction with WhiskyLive London. Buffalo
 Trace was up against such notable distillers as Allied Domecq, Chivas
 Brothers, Diageo, Gordon MacPhail and Four Roses.
     In recent years Buffalo Trace has been recognized for cutting-edge bourbon
 production by such industry publications as Malt Advocate Magazine, The San
 Francisco World Spirits Competition and The International Wine and Spirits
 Competition. "What an incredible honor. We couldn't be more proud," said Mark
 Brown, president of Buffalo Trace Distillery. "Such recognition by the
 industry is overwhelming. Everyone at Buffalo Trace takes great pride in the
 whiskies we produce and to receive this award is a validation of our efforts."
     Whisky Magazine has been presenting this award for 5 years and this is the
 first time an American distiller has ever received the high distinction.
 Results were based on a poll of industry experts including: writers,
 retailers, whiskey producers and independent bottlers from around the world.
 "It's not a moment too soon that an American Distiller has won this award,"
 said Damian Riley-Smith, Managing Director of Whisky Magazine. "Bourbon
 whiskey is beginning its crusade around the world and it's an honor to
 acknowledge a distiller who is at the forefront of that crusade."
     Several of Buffalo Trace's whiskies were also honored at the event. In the
 category of "Best American Whiskey -- over 10 years of age" five of the eight
 winners were from Buffalo Trace, including: Eagle Rare 17 yr. old, George T.
 Stagg 16 year old, Sazerac Rye 18 yr. old, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye
 and the "Best American Whisky 2005" was Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 yr.
 old. Buffalo Trace has garnered more awards since 1990 than any other North
 American distillery -- over 130 awards for more than 14 different brands.
     For more information on the "Icons of Whisky" visit www.whiskymag.com and
 to learn more about the award-winning bourbons of Buffalo Trace Distillery go
 to www.greatbourbon.com .
 
     About Buffalo Trace
     Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Franklin
 County, Kentucky. The distillery's rich distilling tradition dates back to
 1787 and has included such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg,
 Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace is a fully
 operational distillery producing bourbon and vodka on site, and was recently
 named to the National Historic Register. The distillery is also part of the
 Sazerac family of companies, which has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana;
 Franklin County, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia and Loomis, California.
 For more information, please visit www.buffalotrace.com .
 
 

SOURCE  Buffalo Trace Distillery