Historically, the 12 Days of Christmas, begins on Christmas day and runs through January 5 of the new year. Thankfully, when it comes to the more recent Christmas celebrations, they generally happen leading up to Christmas day. One of those celebrations has been taking place at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, for 27 years now. This years Buffalo Trace ‘Holidays at the Trace’ takes place December 4 through December 31, 2025.
Visitors to Buffalo Trace Distillery can enjoy the magic of the holidays with a spectacular holiday lights and decor, shop for brand–new retail holiday offerings and experience the excitement of the distillery’s signature evening event – Spirited Nights. We had a chance to get a sneak peek at this years Holidays at the Trace celebration and are sharing a preview with you here. And lucky for us, this year’s event came with a fresh covering of snow for our visit!
The Buffalo Trace Distillery Holidays at the Trace offer visitors three different offerings.
Spirited Nights Light Trail Experience is a complimentary, 12-night family-friendly event inviting guests to explore Buffalo Trace Distillery after-hours for an experience unlike any other in Kentucky. Visitors will stroll through thousands of twinkling lights, including a 60-foot-long light tunnel and dozens of themed lights scenes, with seasonal food & beverage offerings such as a Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream Hot Chocolate Bar. Guests 21+ may also enjoy complimentary tastings of Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream.
Spirited Nights Cocktails & Cheer is a premium upgrade that includes access to the Spirited Night Light Trail Experience as well as the Distillery’s Holiday Cocktail Trail. Guests receive three winter cocktails featuring Buffalo Trace brands, along with take-home gifts including a Spirited Nights tote bag, a Buffalo Trace souvenir cup and Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream minis. Reservation upgrades are available for $25 per person.
On a side note, even if you don’t purchase the Cocktails & Cheer premium, you can still purchase a flight of the three cocktails just outside of the gift shop. We suggest you start there then enjoy the cocktails and reindeer droppings while you are strolling the grounds.
Spirited Nights Holidays at the Trace Drive-Through Light Show: is exactly what it sounds like a drive through experience that can be enjoyed from the comfort and convenience of your car. Guests will see the distillery’s historic grounds illuminated with holiday lights drive-through experience. You won’t get to see everything that you would see on the walking tour but you see quite a bit. This experience is free and does not require a reservation. It opens nightly from 5:30pm-8:30pm, December 4 – December 31.
Stay Informed: Sign up here for the Distillery Trail free email newsletter and be the first to get all the latest news, trends, job listings and events in your inbox.
“Buffalo Trace Distillery has always been a place where people come together to celebrate, and the holidays are no different,” said Tyler Adams, Buffalo Trace Distillery General Manager. “Holidays at the Trace offers something for everyone. Whether you’re here for the lights, the shopping, or the spirit of the season, we are honored to be part of so many cherished family traditions.”
Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site. The Distillery has won more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 and garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. Buffalo Trace Distillery has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity with Buffalo Trace Distillery.
How Much Does the
12 Days of Christmas Cost in 2025?
$51,476.12
Most Buffalo Trace Distillery tours are free. However, purchasing all the gifts for the 12 Days of Christmas are far from free.
The cost of celebrating Christmas continues to climb. An often-asked question is just how much would it actually cost to purchase those 12 Day of Christmas gift items? Well, thanks to the PNC Christmas Price Index we have the answer. In short, it’s a lot. For 2025, the 12 gifts that comprise the PNC CPI increased to a tree-topping $51,476.12. That is a 4.5% increase over last year. What leads the list? Gold with an increase in value of 32.5%.
Here is a complete breakdown of all 12 Days of Christmas items and their costs.
A Partridge in a Pear Tree — $420.18 (+13.5%). Buying a Partridge in a Pear Tree for your true love this year? You’ll pay 13.5% more for it than last year. But don’t blame the bird. Its pear tree home – impacted by land, labor and fertilizer costs – is entirely responsible for the growing price tag.
Two Turtle Doves — $750.00 (0.0%). The Two Turtle Doves didn’t raise their price this year, but at $750 they’re still a surprisingly expensive gift on True Love’s list. It’s a good thing they prefer telephone wires to pear trees.
Three French Hens — $346.50 (0.0%). The hens demanded a modest raise in 2024, but they’re status quo this year. They’re still $346.50 and still the cheapest group of birds True Love has to track down.
Four Calling Birds — $599.96 (0.0%). If consistency were a virtue, these calling birds would be the most noble gift in the index. Their price hasn’t changed since 2014.
Five Gold Rings — $1,649.90 (+32.5%). Inflation, Fed rate cut expectations and a declining U.S. dollar have sent investors racing for gold and other precious metals. The subsequent 32.5% increase in the price of the Five Gold Rings may have you racing to other options this holiday season.
Six Geese-A-Laying — $930.00 (+3.3%). Geese are loud creatures – honking for all manner of reasons and likely no reason at all. That’s why their modest 3.3% increase feels so uncharacteristically quiet this year.
Seven Swans-A-Swimming — $13,125.00 (0.0%). The swans had the decency not to raise their price in this economically turbulent year. They just weren’t decent enough to drop the $13,125 price tag or relinquish their spot as the most expensive group of birds in the index.
Eight Maids-A-Milking — $58.00 (0.0%). Tied to the Federal Minimum Wage, the Eight Maids-a-Milking remain priced at $58 this year.
Nine Ladies Dancing — $8,856.88 (+3.5%). Sometimes being third is great. Just ask the Nine Ladies Dancing, who keep raising their price – another 3.5% in 2025 – and their status as the third most expensive item on True Love’s shopping list.
Ten Lords-A-Leaping — $16,836.14 (+8.1%). The lords leapt the swans as the most expensive gift in the index a few years back and apparently nobody told them there’s nobody left to leap. They’re tacking another 8.1% on True Love’s bill in 2025 as live entertainment costs continue to rise.
Eleven Pipers Piping — $3,797.48 (+2.2%). If it’s cheap entertainment ideas you seek from the index, well, there are no options. But the Eleven Pipers Piping are the most affordable, with their price tag jumping just 2.2% this year due to the rising cost of performers.
Twelve Drummers Drumming — $4,106.08 (+2.2%). Being the last item on the shopping list means sometimes you are forgotten. But we haven’t forgotten the drummers, and they haven’t forgotten to price in the increased cost of performers this year – another 2.2% in 2025.
Source: PNC
Related Stories
- The Complete Buffalo Trace Distillery Timeline – 1773 to Today
- Buffalo Trace Rolls Out 8 Millionth Barrel – Freddie Johnson’s Family Has Touched Every Millionth Since Prohibition [Infographic]
- Buffalo Trace Distillery Celebrates the Filling of its 7 Millionth Barrel – Honors Family Tradition [Video]
- Sazerac Co. Announces $600 Million Expansion – Largest Distilled Spirits-Related Investment in Kentucky’s History
- Buffalo Trace Distillery Production up 50% as $1.2 Billion Expansion Continues – Capacity to Double to 2,000+ Barrels/Day by Year End
Learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery.
View all Frankfort Distilleries.
View all Kentucky Distilleries.
View all U.S. Distilleries.
Please help to support Distillery Trail. Sign up for our Newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
