Buffalo Trace Distillery launches cafe rich in history and character

The Kentucky-based distillery will launch its first permanent dining destination, John G. Carlisle Cafe, as a natural extension of the distillery on 11 May, offering an immersive cafe experience.

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American, family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky, and a major producer of bourbon, rye and vodka.

The new cafe takes the 1935 Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse, formerly a historic gathering place and cafeteria for employees, and transforms it into a 4,900 square foot space that seats 70 guests inside. It also has additional outdoor patio seating, and features a menu of made-to-order items and bourbon-inspired dishes.

With food, beverage and retail, the new addition reinforces the brand’s legacy through materiality and storytelling. The central idea of the cafe, crafted by retail brand experience agency ChangeUp, is ‘honour tradition, embrace change.'

“It was important to the team to maintain what made the structure distinct while introducing a new layer of experience for guests,” says Ryan Brazelton, chief creative officer at ChangeUp. “We preserved and leveraged original architectural elements to create a cohesive and intentional environment.”

The interior design portrays this idea with copper accents on the ceilings and chairs that represent the distillation process and the building’s heritage. Wood elements are inspired by bourbon barrels with a rugged, weathered look. Concrete and stone call to existing site conditions at the distillery.

The cafe has a variety of seating options for different situations, like banquettes, communal tables and gathering spaces near the fireplace. A coffee and cocktail bar is decorated with artifacts from the distillery archive. Retail integration features grab-and-go products and branded merchandise.

With storytelling as a major focus, the cafe uses historic photography, rare items, and a preserved flood line to mark the historic high-water level reached during the April 2025 flood that devastated the distillery.

With the introduction of the John G. Carlisle Cafe, Buffalo Trace expands beyond tours and tastings to a gathering place that creates new opportunities to engage with the brand.