Crafting Tradition: The Weller Bourbon Tasting Room at Buffalo Trace Distillery

Here is a look inside our latest completed commercial project: a custom build-out for the Weller Bourbon Tasting Room, located at the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery.

In collaboration with Nimlok, the Open Grain Woodwork team was tasked with bringing a refined, high-end aesthetic to this iconic space. From custom-milled Red Oak trim to integrated accent lighting, every detail was engineered to match the rich heritage of Weller bourbon. The team even took a field trip out to Buffalo Trace for the final install to bring the vision to life.

Key Design & Feature Highlights

  • Illuminated Shadow Boxes: We constructed sleek, black-finished lighted box frames running down the wall, designed specifically to showcase individual Weller bourbon bottles.

  • Integrated LED Chair Rail: To divide the vertical wall space and add warmth to the atmosphere, we milled custom perimeter chair rail molding equipped with hidden LED down-lighting, throwing a soft glow down the wainscoting.

  • Massive Custom Mural Frame: Measuring an impressive 188” x 41.1”, this custom frame anchors the main wall, encapsulating a vintage panoramic illustration of the distillery grounds.

  • Tasting Tables: We crafted nine 24” x 48” black tasting table tops designed to fit custom bases, offering plenty of space for guided bourbon tastings.

  • Window Shelves with Steel Rods: Custom-fitted shelving flanking the windows, built using steel rod supports for a clean blend of traditional wood and subtle industrial accenting.

  • Statement Wall Feature: Strategic lighting highlights the focal point of the room—a bold, dark script “W” backdrop set against raw exposed brick.

Materials & Precision Craftsmanship

Matching historic spaces requires meticulous material selection and finishing. To seamlessly tie our work into the room’s pre-existing architectural elements, we carefully custom-stained our woodwork to match the existing trim color down to the shoe molding along the floor.

  • 80 BF 4/4 Red Oak

  • 15 BF 5/4 Red Oak

  • 90 BF 6/4 Red Oak

  • Finish Contrast: Rich, warm Red Oak trim, chair rails, and shelving offset by deep black finishes on the shadow boxes and tasting tables.

Projects like the Weller Tasting Room show what happens when precise woodworking meets thoughtful lighting and branding design. Whether it’s matching century-old architectural details or constructing modern illuminated retail displays, our shop is built for custom, high-impact commercial spaces.

Have a custom commercial build or architectural woodwork project in mind? Reach out to the Open Grain Woodwork team today to start planning your next project!