Buffalo Trace Closes Out 2016 by Giving Away 200 Bottles of Vintage O.F.C. Bourbon

O.F.C. Distillery - Vintage Bottle Give Away for Charity - Buffalo Trace Distillery

It’s kind of like throwing raw meat into shark invested waters. When Buffalo Trace Distillery has a release of Pappy Van Winkle, the bourbon world sits up straight or rather they line up in a straight line in hopes of getting that elusive bottle of 23 Year Old Pappy Van Winkle. Move over Pappy because Buffalo Trace just pulled out another of its vintage brand names, that of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. and the O.F.C. Distillery.

At the end of 2016, Buffalo Trace Distillery gave away 200 bottles of O.F.C Bourbon to charities across the U.S. Not to be consumed by the charity but to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. It’s up to each charity to be creative with how to go about their fundraising efforts in kicking off the New Year with a nice contribution from O.F.C. Bourbon fans. It’s hoped that each bottle will sell for several thousand dollars.

“We expect these bottles to raise upwards of $10,000 each! We are excited to see what kind of creative fundraisers these non-profits come up with and how much money they can raise for themselves,” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director.

The first release is comprised of only 200 bottles. Each charity selected will randomly receive one of these three particular vintages.

100 bottles from 1980
50 bottles from 1982
50 bottles from 1983

The O.F.C. Bourbon is vintage dated according to the specific year in which the bourbon was distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each hand-cut lead free crystal bottle features the vintage year on the label. The bottles are packaged in a wooden display box containing a provenance card with the same information found on the back label.

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Bourbon legend, Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. christened the O.F.C. Distillery (Old Fire Copper or Old Fashioned Copper) in 1870. At the time, it was one of the most state-of-the-art distilleries featuring copper fermentation vats, column stills, and a first-of-its-kind steam heating system used in its aging warehouses. Buffalo Trace recently unearthed part of the distillery that have been buried since the 50s.

These first vintages of O.F.C. Bourbon Whiskey from 1980, 1982 and 1983 are offered exclusively to non-profit organizations at no charge to raise money for their causes. Although these rare whiskeys will not be available in stores or bars and restaurants, later vintages will be released to the overall market starting in the Spring of 2017. Future releases are expected to include whiskeys from the 1990s, including a 1993 vintage and several consecutive vintage years thereafter. Subsequent O.F.C. releases will follow year after year as vintages are produced and reach maturity.

This is the second time Buffalo Trace Distillery has partnered with non-profit organizations to raise money. In 2011, the Distillery gave away 174 bottles of its Millennium Barrel, the last bourbon barrel filled on the last day of the last century. In total more than $150,000 was raised for various charities across the United States, with the top organization raising more than $7,000 for their cause.

Get Out Your Checkbook

Below the image is a complete list of the charities to receive one of these rare bottles. Please contact them directly to discuss auction plans and donations. Good luck!