Harlen Wheatley
“The Face of the Company”
Harlen Wheatly was born in 1969 in the small Boone County town of Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Most of his childhood was spent in Florence, Kentucky. He played linebacker and graduated from Boone County High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Northern Kentucky University. He earned his Master’s Degree in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky while working full time at a chemical company. It was during this time that he learned his formal knowledge in the science of distillation.
Wheatley joined the George T. Stagg Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1995 as a supervisor on the distillery floor. Then, in August of 1999, the Sazerac family purchased the distillery and changed its name to the ‘Buffalo Trace Distillery’, and introduced their new namesake and flagship brand. Wheatley was instrumental in the release of ‘Buffalo Trace Bourbon’ and made a large contribution to the make-up of the brand. It was an immediate success with consumers, and within months, Harlen was promoted to the position of Plant Manager.
Harlen was again promoted to Master Distiller in 2005, becoming only the sixth Master Distiller since the Civil War that the distillery had had. During his tenure at Buffalo Trace, Wheatley has now worked in every stage of the distiller’s process from grain inspection to raw material supervision, barreling, bottling, and aging. He not only supervises the entire distilling process at Buffalo Trace, but also helps oversee and advise at several other Sazerac distilling operations throughout North America. Wheatley is also the face of the Buffalo Trace brands and acts as an Ambassador for the company at many events each year.
In 2019, Buffalo Trace honored Harlen by naming an entire brand after him: Wheatley Vodka. The spirit is made at the Buffalo Trace Distillery by Harlen Wheatley himself. Crafted in small batches and using a one-of-a-kind micro-still, Harlen’s unique wheat recipe is distilled a total of 10 times, triple-filtered, and bottled at 82 proof, creating a delicate and balanced profile. The smooth, crystal-clear Wheatley vodka has already won many awards, just like its maker.
When asked about the changes in consumers that have occurred since he took over, Harlan does not hesitate. “Information,” he says. “People now have the internet and communication. They come into the distillery already knowing about mash bills, aging, and other things. It makes it challenging to keep people interested and guessing!”
Wheatley, now 56, is married. He and his wife, Heather (also a University of Kentucky graduate), live in Frankfort, Kentucky, where they raise their two sons. “I’m proud to make whiskey in the world’s most award-winning distillery in my home state that people around the world can enjoy!”
We are proud that you do as well, Harlan. Cheers, sir!
Contributed by Colonel Craig Duncan, Columbia, Tennessee
Wheatley Vodka and Buffalo Trace Bourbon are only two of many brands that have Wheatley’s innovation built into them.
Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley oversees the entire line of Buffalo Trace Brands
Wheatley shepherded in the "Flagship brand" of Buffalo Trace. Brands with the name Buffalo Trace on the label (left to right): 1.) Buffalo Trace Bourbon, 2.) Buffalo Trace White Dog (4 Mash Bill variations), 3.) Buffalo Trace Bourbon Creme, 4.) Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection.