The Whiskyphiles

Buffalo Trace

buffalo-trace-distillery
buffalo-trace-bourbon-whiskey
Image courtesy of Master of Malt

History In Kentucky, buffalo carved a pathway that was followed by America’s early pioneers. On the spot where the buffalo migration route crossed the Kentucky River, we’ve been making legendary bourbon whiskey for over 200 years. Buffalo Trace is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. During Prohibition the distillery was even permitted to remain operational, to make whiskey for “medicinal purposes”. In tribute to the mighty buffalo and the rugged, independent spirit of the pioneers who followed them westward, we created Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Within the past decade, Buffalo Trace has won more awards than any other distillery in the world, including an unmatched seven “Distillery of the Year” titles. Still American family owned and located in Franklin County, Kentucky, the distillery’s rich history includes such legendary distillers as E.H. Taylor, Jr, George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp and Elmer T. Lee. The distillery sprawls impressively over 130 acres and is home to four centuries of architecture – all still fully operational.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official bottling
  • Blanton’s Original Single Barrel (2015) – Review: Blanton’s Original Single Barrel – Barrel 97 – Barrel 97 ~ 46.5% (Blanton’s Distilling Co.) Category: Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottling: Blanton’s Barrel 97 ABV: 46.5% ABV Cost: £60 for 70cl Score: 89/100 What they say: Blanton’s Original Single Barrel bourbon is a favourite of many, and it’s not hard to […]
  • buffalo-trace-bourbon-whiskey Buffalo Trace (2016) – Buffalo Trace (40%, OB, 2016) Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 40% Cost: £24.25 from The Whisky Exchange What they say: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is distilled, aged and bottled at the most award-winning distillery in the world. Made from the finest corn, rye and barley malt, this […]
  • eagle-rare-10-year-old-whisky Eagle Rare 10 Years Old (2016) – Pay attention otherwise you may miss this one and it is gone. Too easy to sip on the palate I found myself preferring the nose on this Bourbon. Very drinkable as is, unchallenging and equally applicable to cocktail use as the palate is very smooth, subtle and well-integrated. 83/100
  • Eagle Rare 10 Years Old (2021) – ‘Manhattan’ like orange and bitter oak and plenty of woody brown sugar sweetness, oak and honey. 83/100
  • eagle-rare-17-year-old-2015-release-whisky Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (2016) – Eagle Rare 17 Year Old (45%, OB, 2015) Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 45% Cost: £124.95 Score: 85/100 What they say: Eagle Rare Bourbon Whiskey is masterfully crafted and carefully aged for no less than ten years. Every barrel is discriminately selected to offer consistent flavor but with […]
  • george-t-stagg-bourbon-bottle George T. Stagg 2017 Antique Collection (2017) – George T. Stagg 2017 Antique Collection (64.6%, OB) Category: Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottling: Buffalo Trace 2017 Antique Collection ABV: 64.6% Cost: ~ £140 What they say: George T. Stagg This extremely hearty whiskey ages in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years.  Straight out of the barrel, uncut and […]
  • sazerac-18-year-old-straight-rye-2015-release-whisky Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old (2016) – Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old (45%, OB, 2015) Whisky Review Category: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 66.05% Cost: £129.95 Score: 88/100 What they say: The One and Only New Orleans Original. Sazerac Rye Whiskey symbolizes the tradition and history of New Orleans. Rye Whiskey that dates back to the 1800’s, […]
  • stagg-jr-66point05percent-whiskey Stagg Jr. (2016) – Stagg Jr. (66.05%, OB, 2015) Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 66.05% Cost: £74.95 Score: 89/100 What they say: George T. Stagg built the most dominant American distillery of the 19th century, during a time known as the Gilded Age of Bourbon. Uncut and unfiltered, this robust bourbon whiskey […]
  • W.L.Weller-12-Years-Old-Bourbon W. L. Weller 12 Years Old (2015) – W. L. Weller 12 Years Old ~ 45% (Buffalo Trace) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 45% ABV, £36.99 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: As part of the wheated bourbon family, this twelve year old W.L. Weller is aged far longer than most wheated bourbons. This offering is a smooth, easy-going and balanced offering with […]
  • william-larue-weller-2015-release-whisky William Larue Weller (2016) – William Larue Weller (67.3%, OB, 2015) Category: Kentucky Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 67.3% Cost: £128.45 Score: 85/100 What they say: The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2015 William Larue Weller! This stands out for being the only wheated bourbon in the range, which imparts its own fascinating character on the […]
  • William-Larue-Weller-bourbon-bottle William Larue Weller 2017 Antique Collection (2017) – William Larue Weller 2017 Antique Collection (64.1%, OB) Category: Kentucky Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Origin: Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottling: Buffalo Trace 2017 Antique Collection ABV: 64.1% Cost: ~ £130 What they say: William Larue Weller Uncut and unfiltered, this hand-bottled bourbon is barrel proof. Weller substitutes wheat for the traditional rye grain, a production method pioneered […]