Every year, as the holidays roll around, scammers crawl out of the woodwork dressed in festive wrapping paper and big promises. This season, one of the most convincing fakes I’ve seen is the so-called Buffalo Trace 250th Anniversary Advent Calendar, and let me be crystal clear: it’s a scam.
They’re running eye-catching ads across Meta platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads, claiming this advent calendar turns December into a “journey through two and a half centuries of bourbon excellence” from Buffalo Trace. They promise 24 rare whiskeys tucked behind tiny cardboard doors, all wrapped in the prestige of “America’s most enduring distillery.” Sounds magical, right?
Here’s the problem, Buffalo Trace never released such a product.
The Red Flags That Gave the Scam Away
I started digging when I noticed the ads were popping up from shady-looking stores like:
- uniqueexquisites.com
- arosebrden.com
- blinging.shop
- altogethert.com
- epickeeps.com
- louxglow.com
- vitestyle.com
- hopelocalbrandus.com
- degeshop.com
All of these domains are throwaway scam sites. They share the same cookie-cutter design, broken English in the fine print, and newly registered domain ages (a classic scam sign). Once they collect your money, they either send nothing at all or mail a cheap knockoff worth pennies.
The “Money Back Guarantee” Lie
Every one of these fake stores waves around a “100% money-back guarantee” like it’s a safety net. Don’t be fooled, scammers love this line because it creates false trust. There’s no real customer service team behind these sites. No returns department. No refunds. If you try to get your money back, you’ll be met with silence or automated runarounds until your bank’s chargeback window closes.
What Buffalo Trace Actually Says
The legitimate Buffalo Trace Distillery has not announced any 250th Anniversary Advent Calendar on their official site or verified social pages. If such a collector’s item existed, it would be covered by major whiskey news outlets and sold through licensed retailers, not hidden behind random pop-up sites with fake countdown timers. fall for it, but none of it is real.
How to Stay Safe from This and Other Holiday Scams
- Use credit cards, not debit: Easier to file chargebacks if you get scammed.
- Check the seller’s domain: If it’s new or weirdly named, run.
- Verify with the official brand: Cross-check on the real Buffalo Trace website or social accounts.
- Never trust social media ads blindly: Scammers thrive on impulse buying.
What Do You Do When You Suspect A Phishing Attempt
In this digital age and time, almost everyone has at one time received a phishing text or email and often times they fall victim and get scammed. This is why it is imperative that you are always careful when you receive any text or email because one careless click on a link can cause a whole lot of problems for you. Now if you suspect a phishing attempt, here are what I advise you do:
- Do Not Respond to the text, because you responding is actually giving access to the scammers, simply delete it when you receive.
- Quickly change your password if you have mistakenly clicked on the link or given away your login details. Change your password to a strong and unique password.
- Keep an eye on your accounts for any unauthorized transactions.
- Also scan you devices for any malware.
By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to phishing scams and keep your personal and financial information safe.
Conclusion:
The Buffalo Trace 250th Anniversary Advent Calendar flooding social media right now is 100% fake. It’s not a rare bourbon treasure, it’s just a holiday-themed money grab designed to steal from whiskey fans and collectors. If you see it, don’t click, don’t buy, and definitely warn your friends. This is one of those scams that looks classy on the surface but will leave your wallet dry and your holidays bitter.
One of such scams we have discussed here is the Travis Mathew Warehouse Sale Scam
