In this episode, host Randy Warren chats with Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley to explore the distillery’s groundbreaking 4,000-barrel experimental program, and how the team recovered from 2025’s devastating Kentucky River flood. Discover why Buffalo Trace never rotates barrels, how they create 48 whiskeys from 12 mash bills, and what ancient emmer wheat teaches modern distillers. Harlen also reveals why breaking conventional aging rules gives their blending team unmatched flexibility.
How Buffalo Trace Breaks Bourbon Conventions: Harlen Wheatley on Innovation and Experimentation
