Ancient Age was introduced in 1938 by the Schenley company, at what was then known as George T. Stagg distillery. A Japanese firm called Age International purchased the distillery and brand in 1983, renaming the plant Ancient Age distillery.

The Sazerac company purchased the distillery in 1992, and although they still produce the Ancient Age brand, they replaced it as their flagship product in 1999, renaming the distillery Buffalo Trace, and launching a bourbon of the same name a few months later.