Freddie Johnson
“Storyteller Extraordinaire”
Freddie Johnson’s family has worked at the Buffalo Trace Distillery for three generations. Freddie is the distillery’s Chief Tour Guide and VIP Visitor Supervisor. Born in Paris, Kentucky, Freddie spent much of his early childhood with his maternal grandfather, who was a coal miner and moonshiner. Freddie cherishes memories of both his father and grandfather working at the plant for five decades.
Freddie’s family moved to Frankfort, Kentucky, when he was five years old. His father, Jimmy Johnson Jr., and his grandfather, Jimmy Johnson Sr., worked most of their careers at Buffalo Trace Distillery or what was then known as the George T. Stagg Distillery. Johnson, Sr., worked closely with the legendary Colonel Albert Bacon Blanton while his father, Junior, worked under the supervision of both Orville Schupp and Elmer T. Lee. Freddie enjoyed spending time with both his dad and granddad outside, hunting, fishing, and camping.
Freddie worked for AT&T as a network/operations engineer and, at one point, had a top secret clearance because of a government contract he was working on. He became very successful in the network business, a job that took him, for a time, to both Atlanta and New York City for work.
Family obligations, however, caused Freddie to set his job aside when he found out that both his father and older brother were sick. After all, Freddie had made a promise to his father, Junior, more than 20 years prior. He had given his word that he would someday come back and work by his father’s side at the distillery during his lifetime, and in that way, the Johnsons would have had three generations who worked at Frankfort Distillery.
In 2001, Freddie took an early retirement from AT&T and moved back to Frankfort, where Junior got him a job as a tour guide at the distillery. In some of his tours, Freddie wistfully tells tales of his childhood memories with his father, grandfather, brother, and much of the rest of his family in Frankfort. He specifically and very fondly recalls the times with his dad at the distillery and the rich history that those memories bring about as he entertains thousands of visitors each year in his many guided tours at the Trace.
In September 2018, Freddie Johnson received the industry’s highest award when he was elected into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Freddie becomes only the 8th member of the Buffalo Trace family to join the Hall behind such illustrious names as George T. Stagg, Colonel Albert Blanton, Elmer T. Lee, Orville Schupp and Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle. Freddie also received the 2015 ROSE (Recognition of Service Excellence) Award and the 2017 Lexington Hospitality Award.
Now in his mid-70s, Freddie Johnson remains one of the distillery’s most popular and highly sought-after tour guides. He has no plans to retire anytime soon. Says Freddie, “Relationships are important in life, and the people met along the way make the journey worthwhile.”
Contributed by Colonel Craig Duncan, Columbia, Tennessee
Freddie Johnson shares three of the brands carrying the "Flagship” label of Buffalo Trace at the end of every tour; pictured above from left to right: 1.) Buffalo Trace Bourbon, 2.) Buffalo Trace White Dog (4 Mash Bill variations), 3.) Buffalo Trace Bourbon Creme and 4.) Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection.
Freddie Johnson espouses the values and great taste of Eagle Rare Brands at the tasting at the end of many of his Tours at Buffalo Trace. Eagle Rare has three current varieties and a former expression (from left to right): 1.) Eagle Rare 10 year-old (Old packaging) 101 Proof, 2.) Eagle Rare Small Batch 10 year-old (Buffalo Trace’s Top Selling Super Premium Brand), 3.) Eagle Rare Single Barrel and 4.) Eagle Rare Antique Collection 17 year-old (Part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Coolection).
Freddie Johnson share stories of his experiences with his father and the famed Pappy Van Winkle brands on his tours at Buffalo Trace. The line of Pappy Van Winkle includes six brands, five Wheated Bourbons and one Rye (left to right): 1.) Van Winkle 12 year-old Lot “B,” 2.) Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye (13 year-old), 3.) Pappy Van Winkle 20 year-old, 4.) Pappy Van Winkle 23 year-old, 5.) Pappy Van Winkle 15 year-old and 6.) Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year-old