Buffalo Trace Distillery Announces John G. Carlisle Cafe
Buffalo Trace Distillery has announced the John G. Carlisle Cafe – a new, permanent dining option scheduled to open next year on the distillery’s grounds.
Construction of the John G. Carlisle Cafe is already underway on the first floor of the Elmer T. Lee Clubhouse. The 4,900-square-foot facility will offer indoor and porch-seating capacity for 70 people. Primarily serving lunch, the menu will feature fresh, made to order items such as sandwiches, salads, soups, and more, as well as a kid’s menu. Additionally, the cafe will offer guests a limited cocktail menu featuring select Buffalo Trace products.
The cafe’s namesake, John G. Carlisle, played a crucial role in the passage of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. To honor Carlisle’s contributions, Buffalo Trace Distillery forefather Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. named one of the two distilleries he built after him. The distillery was later demolished during the 1936 expansion to make way for the current mash house. A commemorative plaque and stone from the original Carlisle Distillery building, currently located on-site near Guardhouse 1, will be relocated to the flowerbed to the right of the John G. Carlisle Cafe entrance.
The John G. Carlisle Cafe is slated to open in Spring 2026. Hours of operation will be announced closer to opening.
Source: Buffalo Trace Distillery.