Average score from 31 reviews and 128 ratings 81
I'm doing a sort of H2H tonight of Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare. So here is the great white buffalo. 2oz neat pour.
Nose: Double bubble gum, mint, leche cake.
Palate: Very light bodied for a bourbon. Vanilla cake, double bubble gum, honey. Fairly simple.
Finish: Like this review, this finish is short and sweet. Vanilla and honey.
Overall: Smooth, inoffensive, easy drinker being so light bodied. At $22+tax its good value. Nothing bad to say from this fellow.
Earlier batches of Buffalo Trace were bottled at 90 Proof, being 45% ABV, but today this Kentucky Straight Bourbon is available at 80 Proof, being 40%. It is the flagship of the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
The nose is very light and sweet. I get loads of corn and vanilla, a twig of mint and something that reveals rye in the guise of a mild spiciness. The whole is quite light, though. After a few moments it turns a bit dark and sweet with a raisin and some dried apricot. A candied orange peel as well.
On the palate, it is also a lightweight. A touch oily, but not as syrupy as it used to be in previous batches. That is a pity. But taste-wise, it’s okay, even though I get some parma violets and wine gums next to the typical bourbon traits. Again a raisin.
The finish is very short on an almost candy-like sweetness.
Hmmm, this is the least interesting batch I have tried so far.
This is a review of standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon, which has no age statement, but is generally considered to be no fewer than 6 years old, and up to 9 years old. I was recently given a 70% full recently opened bottle from a friend. This is my first ever owned 750 ml bottle of standard Buffalo Trace, and my first review of it. Why? About 9 years ago, in about 2008 I bought a mini of standard Buffalo Trace bourbon which was horrible. This put me off from standard BT for a couple of years. Later I tasted from at least three bottles owned by friends of mine with highly variable taste profiles and highly variable quality levels. All were much better than had been the mini, but I still didn't want to chance buying a full bottle. . Standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon uses Buffalo Trace Distillery's Mash Bill # 1, which has a rye content of approximately 10%. This is among the lowest rye content used by any distillery in the bourbon industry for rye-containing bourbons. Approximately 95% of all bourbons produced use 8-38% rye as the "flavoring grain" along with 5-15% malted barley for enzymes to catalyze the conversion of the grains' starch into sugars. The remainder of the grain recipe, a minimum of 51% by US federal law, up to just under 80%, also by law, is corn. Usually with standard, i.e. rye-containing, bourbon, nearly all of the flavours one encounters derive from new oak aging or from rye grain. Barley always blends into the background, and corn usually blends into the background too, despite frequently comprising 75% of the grain used. Buffalo Trace Mash Bill # 1 is different from most bourbons in that the very low 8-10% rye content frequently allows corn to be actually tasted in the bourbon
Nose: this is the woodiest batch of Buffalo Trace which I have ever tasted. Natural caramel, oak flavours, and vanilla dominate. They are quite refined and beautiful. There is no more than a hint of rye here. The corn, often very noticeable in standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon, is just about invisible in this particular batch. This is a first-rate bourbon nose. Water added brings out confectioner's sugar increased sweetness, and is a beautiful variation. Score: 22.5/25
Taste: even more wood influence in the mouth than in the nose; lots of wood tannins, more than I would like, though not quite enough to ruin the experience. This batch reminds me a lot of Stagg Jr., the first, excessively tannin-laden batch of Stagg Jr. I can just imagine what a steam-roller this batch of BT would taste like at 65% ABV. This batch will divide the wood lovers from those who don't like to taste a lot of wood. Tannins, caramel, vanilla, oak, wood spice...all are strong. The corn has disappeared from this batch, except for the thick body which it gives. Water added mutes the wood flavours somewhat and lowers the pitch. This is different in the mouth with water added, but not necessarily better. Score: 21/25
Finish: the wood tannins evolve more and more acidity and bitterness as they sit long in the mouth. Water added tames the wood flavours somewhat. Score: 20/25
Balance: lovely balance in the nose; overly wood-tannic in the mouth. Score: 20/25
Total Sequential Score: 83.5 points
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Strength: relatively strong flavours in all stages of tasting. Score: 23/25
Quality: very good wood flavours which become overdone in the mouth. It is hard to talk about grain flavours because in this batch the wood makes them nearly impossible to taste. Score: 22/25
Variety: excellent variety in the nose; limited variety in the mouth. Score: 20/25
Harmony: once again, the harmony is excellent in the nose, but excessive wood tannin throws off the balance in the mouth Score: 17/25.
Total Non-Sequential Score: 82 points
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Comment: I have lots of thoughts about this particular bottle of Buffalo Trace, about standard Buffalo Trace bourbon in general, and about standard BT in the context of the full BT line o products. At first, I thought that this was my favourite batch of standard Buffalo Trace bourbon, but repeated tastings made me realise that this batch overdoes the tannin in the same way as did the first batch of Stagg Jr. bourbon, from the same distillery. My thoughts about standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon are now about the same as they were in 2011: It is quite batch variable. At its best it is quite nice. At its worst it is sort of nothing-y on one extreme, or overly-tannic, as is this batch, on the other. I have several times stated over the years, on Connosr.com, that I like standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon OK, but that I like almost every one of the other dozens of bourbons made by Buffalo Trace Distillery better. That is still true
@OdysseusUnbound, this was the first and only bottle of Buffalo Trace that I have tasted that was heavily woody. (approximately one out of five)
Batch variation is a huge factor that only becomes obvious with repeated experience. Sorry I didn't get to see you last month in Ontario. I have some not-so-good Lagavulin 16 to share with you. You might like it, but so far no one else has. And I used to have some not-so-good Talisker 10 to share with @NamBeist,.. and some not-so-good Highland Park 12 to share with many people. In ALL of these cases I have tasted from much better batches of the same named whisky...and I did not want to be disappointed in the bottles which I owned and paid for. The issue is not what these whiskies CAN BE, at their best. It is about consistency, which is nothing like what novices would like to think that it is, based on one or two or three bottles. We would all like our whiskies to be consistently good. That is only sometimes true.
Interesting review. Your score is about what I would award the last Buffalo Trace I had (around Christmas time). Yet the tasting notes are, as you say, variable. My last bottle was good, not great. But it wasn't "woody" at all. It was quite "perfumy", if that makes sense. The vanilla (and toffee to a lesser extent) was very dominant.
The Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straigth Bourbon is Sazerac’s best selling whiskey. But I am sure you have also heard of their Elmer T Lee, George T Stagg, Hancock's President's Reserve and Sazerac Rye. I have put a bottling of Buffalo Trace from 2013 head-to-head with one from 2014 that is bottled at a lower ABV. This is the lower strength version.
The nose of this bottling at a milder ABV is a bit fresher with more mint and citrussy notes and sweet corn. The vanilla is more like toffee here. It is a lot lighter.
It is oily and sweet on brown sugar, toffee apples and vanilla custard, roasted coffee beans and a hint of raisins. More spices than expected. Cinnamon and cloves. Soft pepper. But it is very quaffable.
The finish is medium long on spices and toffee.
This light version of Buffalo Trace is an easy drinking bourbon, but lacks some weight. The 45% ABV version is a lot more rounded. Thanks, Pat!
@Pete1969, as you probably know, Blanton's is a contract whiskey, whose legal rights are owned by Age International. Age International, including the distillery at which it is made, were purchased by Takara Shuzo, Ltd. in 1992. A lot of changes have occurred since that time (including, I think, transfer of ownership of the distillery back to the Sazerac Company), but Age International still owns the rights to Blanton's. So the Buffalo Trace Distillery and its parent the Sazerac Company do not make the decisions on where the various expressions of Blanton's are sold.
My best guess as to why the more basic and the more dilute products are shipped abroad by American distillers, is that they are attempting to sell to a broad general-interest market abroad and not primarily to connoisseurs, thereby hoping to build up their cocktail whiskey business. Why? Because that's where they make most of their money. And they make most of their money there because that is the volume of their production: the average barrels. The top 10% in quality of their barrels can only take them so far, commercially.
I am not sure why so much 40% abv bourbon is designed to be sold internationally. I should think that the US companies know that much of the interest in US interest abroad is by connoisseur 'sippers'. Maybe the US companies are trying to replicate their domestic profit-center in the form of mixing whiskies. Maybe they are trying to conserve much of the premium material for the domestic market. Maybe they see that Europeans drink a lot of 40% blended Scotch and assume that Europeans prefer weak-proof whisky.
In any case, American "sippers" know that US 40% and 40.5% ABV whiskey is designed for cocktails and for ice. Americans buy a lot more typically on proof than on age statements. Americans may buy Wild Turkey 80 proof bourbon for cocktails, but if they are going to sip it they are going to go for Wild Turkey 101. And they rarely pay attention to age statements.
In Frankfort, Kentucky in the USA, you will find the formidable Buffalo Trace Distillery, where whiskey has been made for over 200 years. The distillery was put on the list of National Historic Landmarks in 2013, giving the buildings protected status. Since 1992 she is owned by the drinks giant Sazerac from New Orleans. Their bestseller is this Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon. I will put a bottling from 2013 head-to-head with one from 2014 that is bottled at a lower ABV.
Very sweet and spicy nose on vanilla, corn and rye with some mint. The spices on duty are cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg. Some citrus peels shine through. After a few minutes some brown sugar and honey kick in. Hints of nuts, both almonds and hazelnuts. Soft.
It is almost creamy on the palate. Make that syrupy. Loads of honey with spices (should such a thing exist), with a big pepper in the lead. The mint is prominent as well and keeps it fresh. The fruitiness consists mostly of citrus and raisins. Feels a bit ‘dark’, if you know what I mean.
The finish is fairly long and leaves the oak the final say.
Very accessible and soft bourbon, offering value for money.
I had held off buying a bottle of bourbon for quite a while, mainly because my only experience of american whiskey up to this point had been Jack Daniels No7,a drink which I consider to be one of the most unpleasant to ever pass my lips,right up there with JW red.
Fortunately,from the very first sip,I knew that this was going to be a very different experience. The nose is not a particularly strong one but it is most pleasant. I got an oaky vanilla with a touch of caramel. It's in the tasting that BT comes into its own.
The mashbill,according to the excellent review of the same expression by tjb,is 80% corn,10% rye and 10% malted barley and all these cereals are evident in the taste.The mellowness of the corn,the spiciness of the rye is all there. I got an oaky vanilla fruitiness on my palate but that was secondary to the lovely gentle taste of spice underpinning it all.That night I drank nothing but BT ,which is not my normal pattern of drinking at all but I wanted nothing else except my bourbon. To my delight it improved even more with some air and the mearest dribble of water, any hint of harshness completely disappeared. I knew then that bourbon and me were destined to become firm friends.
I have only given it an 85 more out of anticipation of things to come,such as Elijah Craig 12 and the antique collection, than anything else. I must emphasize that this is a 5 star 85 though, if it was called GlenBuffalo I'd be looking at marking it at 88 or 89 instead.
The options open to American distiller's ,with the only rule being it must contain at least 51% corn,make the mind boggle. I'll be drinking corn,rye and wheat whiskies for many years to come.The only blot on the landscape is that BT can no longer produce enough to satisfy demand which usually means higher prices.Currently, though, it remains one of the best deals you can get on UK shelves.
Good review, if you like this I would suggest Blanton's Original as a nice step up same distillery but only comes from one warehouse H and single barrel. Good dram when first opened excellent after a month or 2 open. 46.5% ABV so carries the flavour much better and quite a difference on the mouth feel. If your ever heading up to Lancashire feel free to get in contact got a few bourbons that will open your taste buds. Rare Breed, Blanton's SFTB and Four Roses 1B open at minute but have a Bookers on order.
Pete1969 sorry I've been so long in replying to your very kind message but unfortunately for me I had just broken my arm and couldn't be bothered with 1 finger typing. Since I wrote this review I got right into bourbon myself. I already have Blanton's Original plus the Gold and 2 SFTB's.In fact I have all the bottlings you've mentioned plus things like ECBP and even a Parker's Heritage bottle. What I really enjoy from the USA is rye whiskey. High West Rendezvous and Smooth Ambler 7 year old are wonderful spirits and I just wish they were a bit cheaper in the UK. If you're ever in the South Wales region your more than welcome to try some with me!!
My introduction to Bourbon was Woodford Reserve, which was a hard and harsh experience for a first timer, used to Japanese single malts and master blends (watch this space because WR is growing on me). I had wondered if Bourbon was possibly not my thing, but drinking a couple of Van Winkle Family reserves changed all that, and perhaps the rest is history! It's the sweetness, vanilla and toasty oak wood of Bourbon that has got under my skin, along with what my palate seems to find as a sweet vinous or Sauternes quality to some of the better ones.
Idling away in my local pub I noticed that they had Buffalo Trace. Having heard that it's probably the most highly rated Bourbon distillery, I thought I'd try it. And I ended up enjoying it so much I got myself a bottle.
Colour is clear golden amber turning light brown in the glass, light brown in the bottle.
Nose is not mind blowing. It's not as deep and rich and complex as WR, or more sophisticated Bourbons, but it's solid and balanced. Lovely oak, vanilla, toasty oak wood, slight white grape vinous, burnt sugar, caramel.
Taste is not hot at all. Very smooth and soft on the palate, very little burn at all. Toasted oak wood, spices, caramel, burnt sugar, and then vanilla. As it lingers in the mouth there's spice and a distinctive liquorice tang which lasts through the finish. Other more subtle notes in the finish include touch of butter. I'm not getting the mint which the tasting notes on the bottle include but maybe a hint of menthol.
This is a really nice soft, well balanced Bourbon which is easy drinking and delicate on the palate. that said the flavours do pack some depth with spices and liquorice, and a decent amount of vanilla. Not the longest finish but very decent for the price.
Right now this will be my go to everyday Bourbon and for the price it seems to be punching well above its weight.
@MuddyFunster. Another spot on review. Buffalo Trace bourbon is the name sake bourbon for one of the finest distilleries in the United States, it's delicious stuff. It's a bourbon I drink often, it's good to have yourself a well know reference to measure other bourbons. Woodford Reserve is a little too Oaky, some people enjoy that.
On the nose, I have vanilla, corn, nutmeg, sawdust and a hint of milk chocolate mint. After a while the rye spices take over, so does the milk chocolate mint with some cherry and orange.
The rye spices are really taking charge on the palate; the burn is well balanced by the mint that is more present now. The fruits flavours are vanishing rapidly with a little flash of liquorice at the end.
The finish leaves you with a soft sawdust more corn and sweetness and a little kick of bitterness if you breathe by the mouth. Quite long, the finish is not as complex as the nose but really enjoyable.
Now, I really like this new bottle, but if I would have reviewed my previous bottle, I would have not given it more than 76! There was no flaws but it was simply corn and sugar: almost no spices and some shy wood. I only bought this new bottle because it was on special. So, I am now questioning myself: Is there a consistency problem with BT or was I simply unlucky with an exceotionaly poor bottle. The scoring by my fellow malt enthusiasts, for this bourbon, are not helping me. So let the real BT stand up. Myself, I don't know which one is the real one.
@Robert99, you are not imagining. There is a good bit of batch variability with standard Buffalo Trace, at least as far as my experience with it goes. I've never bought a bottle of it, and, probably never will, for this very reason. I've had solidly good, just ok, and one very horrible 50 ml mini of standard Buffalo Trace. I've said before on Connosr, that I like standard Buffalo Trace bourbon OK, but that I like almost every one of the 20+ other bourbons made at that same distillery more.
(stay away from Old Charter 8 yo)
I had a bottle that initially I didn't like at all, had a rather pepper alcohol finish that I just didn't quite understand. That was the first dram from a newly open bottle. In a couple of days I thought I should give it another chance. My nose is stuffed up so nothing there but, the palate was oak and honey..The finish ended up sweet pepper with a touch on anise and the finish had long legs and hung around.
This is a good dram and has all the expectations of a good Bourbon. I have "tested" several bottles now and find it to be consistently a good bourbon.
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Buffalo Trace is the flagship expression from the distillery of the same name. This is made from Buffalo Rye Mash #1 which consists of 80% corn, 10% rye & 10% malted barley. Then it is aged for around 8 yrs in Virgin charred oak casks that are sourced from sustainable oak trees over 70 years old.
The end result is caramel golden and really oily. It stocks to the glass beautifully and has a wonderful nose. Big waves of vanilla, sweet grain and nuts.
In the mouth the vanilla is as present as promised. Sweetness, dark fruits, light spices and rye.
The finish is long, spicy, drying and tangy.
This is a quality drop for the price. I am not hugely experienced in the world of Bourbon but I will be buying this again and again in the future.
Revisiting this 3 months later the nose is bigger. Cherries burst out much more than before. The vanilla is there on the pallate as expected and it's smoother than I remembered. The finish is no longer drying. It's still lightly spiced but less tangy and more silky mouth feel. Stilla good long finish which is warming and tingling the tip of your tongue. Still a great bottle. At 84 I feel i could have scored it higher without it being out of place. This is a lovely bottle which for the money is a real banker.
As an Englishman I am a big fan of the way a good Bourbon can take you away to a far off saloon in 1775 America. Sitting here in Essex I can almost imagine taking a last drink before heading off onto the American plains in pursuit of riches and glory. Scotch doesn't contain the promise of adventure as much as a good bourbon.
Nose: Butterscotch is the first thing I notice followed by a soft touch of vanilla and ever enticing oak. Instantly youth is noticeable, but rather than trying to be something its not this dram accepts that its not a wise experienced scotch and using its playful nature to its full advantage. A rich buttery afterthought comes to the fore and leaves me wanting to sniff away for hours.
Palate: Spicy oak with caramel and butterscotch make a fantastic match really complimenting the gentle warmth of the alcohol. I was expecting the alcohol to be unrefined and rough but instead I find the flavours well balanced, rich and thick.
Finish: Plum crumble with custard and a generous helping of sprinkled cinnamon springs to mind. A short finish lets it down slightly as I would have enjoyed spending more time with the fantastic mix of flavours.
Ok, objective achieved. I can almost see the last saloon, a bartender cleaning tumblers while the gunslingers on my left order another round. Unfortunately the finish takes me away from all the excitement far too quickly which is really disappointing.... but then I can always take another sip ;-D
Thanks for the comments! Sorry I think may need to brush up on my history a little haha. A good bourbon really floats my boat, Kopper Kettle from Belmont Farms distillery is one of my all time favourites despite its imperfections. If I am ever in DC I will definitely take you up on that Victor thank you. Next bottle I purchase will be another of their expressions as I am sure this one won't be around too long!
I suppose the grass IS always greener rigmorole ! For me Scotch is preferred but I just don't get the same sense of adventure as I do from Bourbon. Sounds stupid but I enjoy where a Whisky/ey takes me as much as I do the taste.
Gun slingers, prohibition and gangsters.. America has an extraordinary history in regards to its relationship with alcohol and the history makes the experience of drinking whiskey all the more fulfilling.
It all depends on the location for me, if I am at home writing or in front of the TV I would choose an older scotch. Whereas if I were camping or with friends I can think of nothing better than a Bourbon.
I am sure there will be! Thank you both for your comments! If you ever find yourself spending time in London drop me a line and I would be more than happy to give you a tour of the local pubs which specialise in English cask ale (pretty fantastic) and a few drams of the good stuff from my modest cabinet!
Yes certainly I can offer some of my favorites these days. I just tasted Pappy Van Winkles 15 for the first time a few days ago. Top notch scotch. I've owned a bottle of the PVW 20 and while it was more complex not all of the flavors were entirely welcome (I got hints of model airplane glue on the palate, for example). The 15 is simply superb all around and will never disappoint even the pickiest bourbon drinkers.
Other more obtainable favorites include: Elmer T Lee Straight; Bookers (which is a little like a scotch but not quite); Four Roses Limited Edition Single Barrel; Rowan's Creek; Bernheim Wheat Whisky (like PVW, it uses wheat with the corn, however it's much more humble and simple than PVW, which is worth a high price tag in a pub if you can get your hands on a glass); Bulleit 95 Rye; Elijah Craig 12 (easy to find but quite good); Rittenhouse Rye (inexpensive great mixer); Mellow Corn (nice bottle to take camping because it's solidly made but quite inexpensive and great as a mixer); Eagle Rare 10 & 17 (both these are Buffalo Trace whiskies. The 17 is heavenly and the 10 is decent). As for blended whisky, I like the Great King Street and the Hibiki.
Sweet steady fiery arrival develops a fast uneventful finish.
Thanks for the input I'm sure you are right that this would make an exhalant mixer. :)
Great for cocktails/mixdrinks though!
Exactly one month short of a full year since I started on my first "proper" single malt (Aberlour 12), I decided to crack open something new that was sitting in my cabinet the whole year. It was a choice between 4 single malts, one vetted malt, and one bourbon. It took some time, but I finally decided on Buffalo Trace. I recently ended up finishing Glenlivet 12, Islay Mist 8, and Talisker 10.
Since the summers over here are hot and scorching, its not very enjoyable to be drinking scotch (especially the really rich, flavourful and bold type) at the moment. So, I figured it'd be best to pop open something a little easier to sip on as the summer comes to a wrap. (Fall/Winter is when the really good stuff gets purchased and enjoyed!)
Nose - Light butter on the top, followed by caramel, spice, and pepper. Hints of citrus-wood and shy vanilla. Usually the sweetness is quite apparent on the nose on bourbons. In the case of Buffalo Trace, not so much. It's much more subdued and restricted. With water, this all changes, but I'll detail that much more in the conclusion.
Palate - Wood and more wood. Lots of oak on the arrival, wood, sour and bitter notes. Dryness becomes very apparent as it starts to open up, fairly quick arrival, but very gentle. Keeps a very sourish/dry/butter note throughout.
Finish - Very light, and not much happening here. Stays dry and bitter in the finish as well, followed by some spice (peppery hints). However, add some water and this becomes much more enjoyable. In the nose, we get way more sweetness, and a much more balanced bourbon! Butterscotch vanilla come out as well. Taste wise it becomes much more rounded, and pleasant to the palate.
Conclusion - Nothing that stands out too much. I purposely didn't watch any reviews of this before reviewing it and let my nose and taste buds do all the hard work. Turns out my choice was just right for tonight. Popping open something tame, subdued and just right for the heat and occasion. This bourbon definitely benefits from a splash of water, and perhaps in really hot climates, something to pour over the rocks.
I just opened a bottle of this. I'm only two glasses into it, so far from really knowing what it has to offer. I noticed a pronounced mint finish to mine. It is a very green, sappy mint. It taste like the flavor comes from contact with new wood that wasn't charred fully. We shall see what time does.
Moved this up to 78 points, just 2 shy of 80. Poured this over the rocks tonight (something I'd never do with a Scotch) and it really went from smooth to even smoother. Sweetness, caramel, brown sugar, just deliciousssss! I can see how some bourbon's really benefit from ice. Great stuff.
I bought this on a whim about a month ago when I visited one of the few stores in this country that carry bourbon. It was cheap, supposedly quite good, and it came recommended by the shop keep. I figured I’d go for it. I’ve recently fallen in love with bourbon, and I wanted to seek out a new everyday sipper for my shelf. It was an impulse buy, to be sure, but not one that I would come to regret…
Nose: Oak first, then mint, then cherry cola, with a sweetness somewhere between dark honey and maple. Hints of spice. A straight-forward and respectable bourbon nose.
Palate: Creamy arrival, but medium bodied. Burnt vanilla, oak, honey, maple, coconut, red licorice, and cherry cola. Nice spices here.
Finish: A semi-dry finish with cherry cola, mint, coconut, red licorice, and spices that loom for a while before gently fading. Medium length, with lingering oak.
The flavours are wonderfully consistent throughout this dram, and some of the lovely notes that greet us at the nose stay present right through the finish. There’s good balance here, as well as a bit of kick. This isn’t particularly heavy bourbon at 45%, so my instinct is to drink it neat. However, I do find a couple drops of water makes a world of difference in opening it up.
So, yup… this has replaced my previous everyday bourbon sipper, Knob Creek. Why? One, because I prefer the mash bill here. I get more rye from this and more general balance. Two, because it’s thinner. No, it’s not thin. But it is thinner than my previous sipper. I know; that’s usually cause for complaint, not praise. But while thick, mouth-coating, syrup-like bourbon may be great from time to time, I prefer something a little less substantial for casual sipping. And this is the ultimate casual sipper; the embodiment of a medium bodied, non-premium, quality bourbon. It isn’t going to rock your world. But it’s very pleasant, reasonably complex, straight-forward, distinctive, and affordable.
@CanadianNinja: Yeah, it took a while for me to get into bourbon, but nowadays I can't seem to get enough of it. From what I've heard, you guys have a significantly better choice of bourbon in Japan. Old Grand Dad isn't available here. In fact, not much beyond standard mass-marketed bourbons can be found in Taiwan, much to my dismay. I'll add that to the list of things to keep an eye out for. Thanks!
hunggar, it seems that you and I both have recently begun to delve into the world of bourbon. I have yet to try this one myself but I will get around to it eventually. Your reviews are excellent, thank you.
Have you tried Old Grand Dad 114 yet? Is it available in Taiwan? Holy cow my friend... talk about bang for your buck! A great bourbon!
Buffalo Trace - Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey definitely broke barriers for me. Somehow I hadn't come across with a good bourbon before but Buffalo Trace managed to introduce me to a nice type American whiskey.
Complex, deep, rough and entertaining - full of surprises. Just like O Brother, Where Art Thou? A great movie by the Coen brothers. Though Buffalo Trace is from Kentucky and not from the deep south of Mississippi like the Coen's movie, I could still imagine the deep south in the bourbon.
As soon as I had finished my first drink of the Buffalo Trace, in my mind I had already went time traveling. I could imagine myself pouring a shot of this fine bourbon somewhere in the United States - feeling free, enjoying every drop of it.
Buffalo Trace was rich and complex like any Coen brothers film but in it's state of mind it is surely "the Homer's Odyssey of the deep south". O Brother, Where, o where have you been?
Nose: Great heavy aromas of waxy honey, oak and spices with sweet minted vanilla.
Palate: The honey wax feels in the taste as well. Rich with vanilla and oak, complemented with hints of leather and tobacco.
Finish: Finish is long and big but maybe too bitter (rye?) for me. Gets dry towards the end, giving you oak and spices.
Balance: Complex package of manly roughness and sweet spots. Richly layered and complex.
Hi @Rantavahti. The best thing to do to get the taste of rye is to sample a few ryes, especially the best ones. When I visited Thailand many years ago I saw sapphires for sale on every block, at prices from a couple of bucks to many thousands and wondered what I might buy among them. Then I saw some $ 25,000 stones and immediately knew what a gem-quality sapphire should look like.
If you want to encounter Plato's Form of Rye Whiskey, try some Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye, or the Canadian produced Masterson's Straight Rye Whiskey 10 yo.
I had to overcome a somewhat different cultural bias: Scottish malt seemed at first to me to be a product which had been in recent centuries bastardised by needing heavy peat and wine-aging because it starts from such relatively mediocre flavouring agents as the grain barley and worn-out re-used wood. Of course with experience I came to see and appreciate that there are many beautiful malt whiskies, and that Scottish malt is not just washed out and lifeless. The flavour profiles remain quite different between most American non-barley whiskies and world malt whiskies, however. Rye is never used in Scotch, and new wood rarely, because those are dominating flavours and would overwhelm the flavours of malted barley. But those two flavours are what American whiskey is all about. Barley-malt whisky and US Bourbons and Ryes are two different categories of taste experiences, like the difference between eating red meat and eating fish. If someone were to ask me, "Which tastes BETTER, meat or fish?" my truthful answer is that I like them both, very much, in their own ways, and at different times when in different moods.
It is always good to have substantial experience before developing strong opinions.
@Rantavahti, I am glad that you enjoyed your Buffalo Trace bourbon. Many do. I like it ok, but I like all of the 20 other bourbons I have had from the same distillery more.
If you like standard BT, then my advice to you is "Get thee to a Stagg-ery!". George T. Stagg is like the Hydrogen Bomb Version of standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon...same mashbill, 15+ years of aging, and typically around 70+% ABV. This is The Bomb for the Buffalo Trace Mashbill, like Slim Pickens at the close of Dr. Strangelove.
If you get bitter, then the oak is leaving something to be desired. Rye is never bitter. It is sharp, it is spicy, but it is not bitter.
Cheers, Friend!
Nose: Bubble gum, spearmint, vanilla, brown sugar.
Taste: Sweet and fruity, clementines and apricots, and spicy (tastes like it has a lot of rye). A touch of vanilla. Maybe a bit of smoke but I'm not getting any ash.
Finish: Long. Starts spicy and fades to vanilla oak. Fairly dry.
@novicedrinker, that's a shame but I'm sure there are other bourbons you can try in your area. Buffalo Trace is just a solid example of the type. Nothing too exciting, but I do hope you get to try it someday!
@MCM no joke, right? It's about as good as a bourbon you need to hide from your friends, but you can actually share this one!
@novicedrinker, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. My bottle was identical to the one in the picture up there.
My wife every so often decides that she's going to cook up some beautiful ribs that are cooked in a lovely sexy bourbon sauce.
However this poses a problem for me as she uses MY bourbon to cook said ribs.
But I came up with a solution, she uses the bourbon, I buy more bourbon.
Great solution right!?!
So she took it upon herself recently to cook up not one batch of these ribs, but four batches.
One for each family member.
Problem is that's going to take a LOT of bourbon, more then I had on hand.
Solution is to go pick up more bourbons, new bourbons!
I always take the opportunity when my wife makes bourbon ribs to pick up bourbons that I've never tried before, or bourbons that it's been a very long time since I've tried them.
So we head out to Dan Murphys to pick up some new bourbons.
We need three different bottles of bourbon and I decide to go with three completely different bourbons that are all new to me.
Buffalo Trace (weirdly enough I've had all of his big brothers), Wild Turkey and Bulleit bourbon.
We get all the bourbons home and over the course of the day my lovely wife does 99% of the prep while I try to help out and generally get in the way.
Hey what else are husbands for?!
Now I convince my wife to use whisky from some of each bottle in order to make sure that I can grab a sample from each whisky.
Now it's time to take these whiskies out for a spin!
I decide to start with Buffalo Trace, having tried multiple versions of it's big brothers, George T Stagg, William L Weller and Thomas H Handy.
I pour a wee bit of the Buffalo Trace into the glencairn and decide to give it a nose.
Oak, coconut, caramel, vanilla, burnt sugars, and cinnamon make this a very enjoyable nose.
Time for a taste!
Oak comes through first, quite strongly, then moving to hints of vanilla, bits of coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg, hints of cherries.
It's quite sweet with a wee bit of oak tannins providing some bitterness.
However the body feels quite thin to me, coming in at that 40%. Even a 5% jump up in strength would have served this bourbon quite well.
Quite a very short finish with coconut and vanilla ending with a faint hint of sugar at the very end.
Not a bad bourbon.
Especially for $50 odd AUS, considering that Jim Beam and his company run at around $35 AUS.
Definitely spend the extra $15 bucks for the better whisky, but personally I find that I enjoy his big brothers much more, even if they are six times more expensive.
Sorry it took me a couple days to reply to you guys. Yeah sadly it's bottled at 40%, I actually triple checked considering everywhere online I'd seen it going for 45%. For some reason the Aussie importers (I'm assuming it's due to customs and excises) love to water down the whiskies that come in. Jack Daniels and Jim Beams all seem to sit at around 37% along with a whole host of other imported bourbons and as we see here Buffalo Trace is at 40%.
I can easily believe that that extra 5% would make all the difference on this whisky. A little more depth, a little more bang, would have probably been worth a solid 5 points or more to the score. Such a pity.
That is odd that the Ozzie bottle is only 40%ABV. And yeah, it's $19.99 chez nous. The owner of the chain I work for went up to the distillery and fell in love, so we had to buy at my store 20 cases of 750ml, 8 cases of 1.75l, and 6 cases each of Eagle Rare and Blanton's... and an empty Buffalo Trace barrel!! I'm not shitting you. $2000 for an empty fucking barrel!!! I guess he just got wrapped up in the experience and forget that POS props are provided free... Yes, it still rankles, in case you didn't notice. 15 of us had to swallow that pill.
By the way, the 5% does help give it more depth.
Buffalo Trace may be the most exciting distillery in the USA right now - or, if you listen to Jim Murray, in the world. They create a huge range of whiskies of various ages - but this one is their signature, basic, most available bourbon. I took a sick day today (nasty cold, though the bourbon helps!) and also, my new MacBook Pro arrived, so I get to post these notes through my new computer!
The colour is coppery with amber highlights. On the nose, buttered popcorn! Also, lots of oak, vanilla and burnt sugar. Very herbaceous (mint, oregano). But oak keeps pouring off of it. This is a good bourbon nose; water softens it and highlights the corn.
On the palate, the vanillas are tamer, but the oak is stronger. There are hints of minty mouthwash...and grapefruit? Water softens the palate as well as the nose.
The finish is long and peppery and somewhat mouthdrying - not too sweet but just sweet enough. This is an excellent everyday bourbon; I put it well above Jim Beam, Bulleit and most other standard bourbons (though perhaps not above Maker's Mark - with whose pen I wrote these notes!) And it has helped me get through a yucky day of sneezing, sniffling, and file transferring.
0 2
Granted, I'm not a bourbon professor. But I liked Jim Beam and Jack Daniels for being different (than scotch) with plenty of playful vanilla.
And this bourbon just did not impress me at all. I tried it three times and found it too harsh, and way too oaky, with just a hint of vanilla. It has bitter taste and finish. What is it? Rye?
It tastes like cheap cogniac/brandy with oak dominating and bitter aftertaste.
Maybe it's a bad bottle, but I don't think I'm buying it again. There are other decent bourbons awaitng.
Ok, it is mellowing out. It developed one nice and prominent flavor which I tend to like - a cherry jam. It is noticeable in a nose but more so in a finish. I'd give it another +5 points for that. Palate is still flat and too oaky.
I'll have to disagree with you on this one. I've recently (last year) been drinking burbons to supplement my love of scotch. Buffalo Trace has been one of the better ones. Try it with a little water. For some, the alcohol may be a little harsh. But it's been very enjoyable. And Costo features it at a good price!
I'll put my hand up straight away and state up until recently, when I didn't want to drink vodka, my spirit of choice was a nicely aged Anejo Rum of some variety.
Waitrose had Buffallo Trace gathering dust on their shelf for £18, so I gave it a punt following the reviews on here.
Cracked the bottle and the first glug had a nose overwhelming of cherries with maybe just a little wood underneath telling your nose that this isn't some cherry liquer. The spiritous bite you get from a bottle of Jack wasn't there, indicating this was something a little less in-your-face.
First sip was dazzling- much less sweet than Jack Daniels, Jim Beam or indeed Maker's Mark. There's cherry flavour, but not the 'one note' sickliness of Jack- more layered with a little heat of that fruity flavour you get from a fresh, light-roast Kenyan coffee (rather than the burnt-to-a-crisp black sludge you get in the big mugs from Starbucks) I found a certain smokiness too, as well plenty of warmth from the alcohol. In the mouth it was smooth and oily in a pleasant way- indeed, there were actually proper 'window panes' when I swirled the glass.
On swallowing, the finish I struggled to place what the actual flavour was lingering on the back of my tongue, then worked it out as an almost licorice flavour- Which sounds wierd when I think about it, but it worked well with that other flavours.
I found that a couple of ice-cubes* let melt a little shortened the finish a great deal, but trimmed the cherry flavours and alcohol to allow more of a smokey/wood combination to come through, which was highly pleasant to sip at while reading a book in the peace and quiet.
In truth, I think I've found my new 'go to' day-to-day whisky. It's that nice.
Excellent to hear that you are enjoying your Buffalo Trace bourbon. Since you already like the taste profile, when you get a chance, if you can, find someone to give you a sip of George T. Stagg. Stagg is the Hydrogen Bomb version of the standard Buffalo Trace Bourbon.
I'll give it a try.... Hydrogen Bomb, eh?...Sounds like my style all over :D
In my search for a great bourbon, I had seen many times the name of Buffalo Trace has high rated bourbons. When the SAQ announced the Buffalo Trace in their new arrivals, I jumped at the chance. The product was so new that the advisor had to get it in the warehouse. Cool, a bottle that didn't sit for months on the shelf. Brand new out of the box. Beautiful bottle but transparent. This is not what is best to protect from light. I also ask advisor what he thought about it, although suspecting that just out of the delivery truck, he would have no opinion. "I just know the Jack Daniels, it's the only one I drink." Okay, so I know more than him. Needless to dwell. I do not blame him but for beginners who would read to me, bourbon is whiskey, Jack Daniels is whiskey, but Jack Daniels is not bourbon. To be called bourbon, basically, a whiskey must contain 51% corn, have been aged in new American oak barrel (yes new, after it has served once, it cannot be used again for bourbon) for a minimum 3 years. This is not the case for the Jack. I'll come back on that subject another time. In short, I checkout (very reasonable $ 38) and I leave for home.
Little usual ceremony: I take the time to visit the website of the distillery . Interestingly, there is plenty of information on the manufacturing of the product. I read the label, it is bilingual. Although I am bilingual, I like that a company takes the time to translate its labels to sell its product in Quebec. It shows some effort to conquer me. I open the bottle .... Wow it smells good. Grain, caramel. Once the glass it's a little different. The alcohol and tannins appear. It is harsh. There is vanilla and I detect corn, wood and honey. I'm running the liquid in the glass and it sticks to the glass. Small drops are formed after a few seconds and run sloooowly along the glass.
In the mouth, agressive. This bourbon is 45%. The alcohol and tannins take over but behind I note the caramel and spice from the rye. I get my whisky stones to cool a little that aggressive "buffalo". Once calmed down, I note honey. I also can detect more the oak's flavor. The finish is short and it leaves a taste of woody-caramel.
A really great bourbon.
Drunk neat.
Before I start, I'd like to thank Québec Whisky for the heads-up about the availability of this whisky in Québec.
Nose: The oak is strong here, with vanilla and toasted oak arriving first, with spicy rye forming the background. There is also a very slight mint that appears as I dip deeper in the glass.
Taste: The sweet corn hits the palate first, and it makes the body slightly syrupy. Not as much as a Canadian, but it's certainly the most sweet bourbon I've tasted until now. The rye spiciness appear gradually as the bourbon warms in the mouth, but it does not overpower.
Finish: Fruitiness, the spiciness, both coming from the rye. The warmth appears after the initial rye attack and it is of decent length.
I happen to like whiskys that show some sweetness, without being cloying. This is certainly one sweet bourbon, and it hits the spot for my tastes.
Would I buy it again? Yes. It is affordable(sub-40$ in Québec) and the I love its taste. It's not the most complex whisky I own, but it strikes a great balance between the tastes I'm looking for in a bourbon. Buffalo Trace is going to be the "bourbon-with-rye" in my cabinet.
@JeffC, you are one of the toughest critics and hardest graders I know. Why don't you write a Buffalo Trace review and tell the truth about ALL of your experiences of it? As you know, I have never bought 750 ml of Buffalo Trace, because my first 50 ml of it was not something I liked, at all. I've had other samples, given by you, mostly, that I liked much better. When you've been badly burned by a bottle of whiskey, which can sometimes happen even with a good whiskey, it is still hard to have confidence in what the next bottle of it that you purchase may taste like.
I will probably never buy a bottle of Buffalo Trace bourbon, not because it is usually bad, but because there are so many others that I like better. That said, I love and look forward to George T. Stagg, which is basically the hydrogen bomb version of Buffalo Trace.
Nice review. I usually like Buffalo Trace too and have purchased a few bottles of it over the past few years. Unfortunately, I have noticed a large variation in quality. Some bottles I might give a score in the low 90s, others in the low 70s. I have been meaning to write a review but am waiting to get a better bottle than the one I have open now. I also find that after opening and having a few drinks, it helps to let it sit (cork in obviously) in my basement for a few months.
I must admit that I am a single malt aficionado, but due to some personal (and geographical) reasons, I am not against tasting bourbon. I noticed a kind of rivalry between scotch and bourbon drinkers. However, you cannot compare apples and pears. Be it a scotch or a bourbon, each one has its qualities (and shortcomings), according to their respective consumers (e.g. complexity, peatiness, fruitiness or “bitterness” of single malts versus sweetness and oakiness of bourbon whiskeys). Apart from the mainstream products, there are a lot of good bourbons on the market… and Buffalo Trace is one of them. Nose: an aromatic mix of toasted oak, vanilla, and bubblegum . Sweet pungency. Taste: Sweet and sharp oakiness mingled with some butter toffee, marzipan, or even chocolate (?), quite fiery in the beginning, but not imposing. Mellows when you let it rest for a while. Finish: lingering… and lingering… sweet and oaky and mouth-filling. Buffalo Trace is on the sweeter side of the whiskey world, but the oaky flavor helps to reach a nice balance. I got the impression that the whiskey gets sweeter, even a tad “maltier” when you let it rest for some ten minutes in your glass.Buffalo Trace is extremely drinkable at ABV 45%, and would not have the same result as an 80-proof version. Seconding one of the earlier reviews, follow the buffalo!
I've just started trying Bourbons out again and was impressed with Elijah Craig which I found very enjoyable... Not sure about this one yet
Having tried both neat and with water I think it's definitely better neat.. On the nose I'm getting really bright citrus notes, walnuts, oak and an earthy lime... the taste though is a bit undefinable, starts of oily on the palate with an earthy oaky undertone followed by burnt sugar and dry, bitter leather finish. For me something missing though, depth, complexity and memorable finish, the sought of feeling I had after drinking Auchentoshan 12yo... conclusion: probably better as a mixer and I would rather buy another Elijah Craig 12yo.
notmuchclass is just showing how a troll behaves. Be carful? What's a carful?
mattberg, your review seems to follow a pattern for Buffalo Trace's standard Bourbon. Some reviewers love it, some like it, and some outright hate it! Scores as low as 5 and as high as 100 have been given this whiskey on this site. Even excluding those two extremes, your score of 60 is on the low end of average for Buffalo Trace. You managed to find the listed bottle for review, a daunting task seemingly too difficult for notmuchclass to master on his sole posted review. You also kept your review focused on the whiskey in question without resorting to childish gay bashing. Well done!
BTW, be careful that you don't comment on his rampant homophobia, or he'll assume you must be a "fudge pilot" yourself, as he so eloquently phrased it.
....and the infantile homophobia continues from notmuchclass!
0 0
Served neat. Pours a lighter amber gold with nice legs: thin and abundant. The nose is sweeter with white grape, sweet honey, golden apples, Bosc pears, sweet Valencia orange. Soft and fruity nose albeit a little light. Taste is juicy, fruity, softer with spicy orange peel and vanilla. Long, bitter palate. Becomes tangy and sweet with pears piling on as you sit with it. Thicker, honey viscous mouthfeel. A step up from Knob Creek and very good considering its price.
0 10
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the eponymous, flagship bourbon of the Buffalo Trace distillery of Frankfort, Kentucky. Owned by the Sazerac Company, the Buffalo Trace distillery is responsible for a wide range of excellent bourbons and ryes; brands using the same high corn mash bill as Buffalo Trace include Eagle Rare and George T. Stagg. Buffalo Trace is a “small batch” bourbon—a term that should be taken with a grain of salt in most cases, as it has no legal meaning—and though there is no age statement on the bottle, Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley claims it is aged for eight years or so.
The nose is rich and enticing. Consistent notes include caramel, vanilla, oak, rye, brown butter, nutmeg, and oatmeal. More fleeting notes include green apples, plums, cherries, oranges, honey, and anise.
Like the nose, the palate is again rich, with consistent notes of spicy rye, oak tannin, butterscotch, bananas, and nutmeg. Occasionally, a hint of cinnamon creeps in.
Eagle Rare 10 year-old Single Barrel, Buffalo Trace’s slightly older sibling, is a touch softer, smoother, and rounder. Yet, it would be a stretch to call it “better.” Both are remarkable bourbons, brimming with complexity—one younger and more feisty, the other older and more composed. It’s a great distillery that provides both—and a brilliant one that provides the George T. Stagg to boot!
Cheers, @whiskyshiba! Very flattering, indeed!
Buffalo Trace is perhaps my favorite distillery—not just in the US, but worldwide—so I can appreciate your fanfare. If you like the Stagg, you might also see if you can get your hands on a bottle of Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye—it has many of the same "movements" as the Stagg, but in rye form. And if you're curious about their experimental work, you might also want to track down a bottle of the new Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bottled in Bond. The backstory on that one is quite interesting: chuckcowdery.blogspot.com/2011/02/…
Thanks for the kind words, @Victor and @whiskyshiba!
@Victor, I'm sorry your first Buffalo Trace experience was a disappointing one, but I'm glad you eventually made it through to the other side.
@whiskyshiba, I have not tried the Bowman Rye, but I hear good things about the barrel proof expression. I'm skeptical of the designation "Virginia Rye" as, while it's been aged in Virginia (hence the designation), it is from the same mash bill as the Sazerac line (i.e., Sazerac Straight Rye, Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye, and Sazerac 18 year-old); it's a Virginia Rye in name only. In any case, the barrel proof is only available as a single barrel bottling through the Party Source, and I live in Ontario, so I don't know that I'll ever taste it. That said, @HP12 has tried it and reviewed it here: connosr.com/reviews/a-smith-bowman/…
The second of two new drams for Chrissie thanks to my wife and daughter. I've been looking forward to this one. I've only tried a couple of decent bourbons (nearly all of them Blantons) so getting my hands on another highly regarded bottling at a very decent price was very tempting.
Wow that nose! I had it sitting between my thighs on the couch as I started the review and I was getting tantalizing hints of vanilla and toffee. When I finally bought it to my nose it thickened showing a really mature, creamy, gentle nutmeg, cinnamon and clove spices, along with desiccated coconut. This is really something. Lovely stuff!
The taste is warmly spiced - cinnamon with a hint of nutmeg. Creamy toffee apple, sweetcorn, oak and old leather. Mouthwatering with hints of brown sugar and mint. There is a lot going on here and I like all of it!
The finish is long, dry and spicy, full of clove and cinnamon. Vanilla and oak notes come through as well as a savory leather note that lasts forever!
This is really top shelf stuff. This is by far the best bourbon I've ever had, and sits well with on he shelf with only the very best drams besting it, and even then it is only barely shaded.
I had this with some golden syrup pudding and ice cream, and it certainly spiced it up cutting through the syrupy sweetness of it all. Worth trying with other very sweet desserts!
Interesting review! I have a bottle of Buffalo Trace, but I don't think I would review it the same. I find myself wanting to try it again, with your notes in mind as I drink. I prefer Knob Creek 9yr over Buffalo Trace.
I've not had Knob Creek (it's a little hard to come by here in Australia), but I very much enjoyed this one. As a good friend of mine mentioned when I poured him a glass, this was a whisky that he enjoyed immensely but had no inclination to ask for another. It's the opposite of a session drink - it's a dram for the days when you want to make sure you stop at one, sort of a solo performance.
I've had a few American bourbons and/or whiskeys and have to say this is my favourite so far.
The color is gold to copper and the dram is very oily. The liquid literally sticks to the glass for minutes. Wonderful.
The nose is incredible. Loads of vanilla and coconut, bitter nuts and caramel.
On the palate he's very rich, creamy but soft. The vanilla returns, accompanied by lemon and nutmeg. Quite spicy, but wonderfully balanced.
The finish is long and sweet, but you get a bitter kick in the teeth right before the dram's death. The fact that this is 45% ABV most likely has something to do with that.
This is - for me - by far the best American dram I've had so far (OK, admittedly, that's only 5, this one included).
In Belgium, you can find this one for 20 to 25 EUR, which is actually a bargain for the quality you get.
Good review! Was going to do a review but after reading this could not add anything of value. I too am a relative Noob on Bourbons but decided I would try another while watching the Superbowl last night. I enjoyed this dram very much Excellent mouthfeel,nose and taste were as you reported. A very good value even here in Canada at $40.
Spot on review. Buffalo Trace is good stuff at an excellent price.
Buffalo Trace was the first whiskey poured at our first whiskey gathering (of friends). It was enjoyed by both my wine- drinking friend and my "I don't really like whiskey" buddy.
I love this whiskey. I think it is easy on the palate but with plenty of flavor. Only problem is I drink it like candy. It is my drink of choice which isn't cheap. Anywhere to find coupons on this stuff?
Nose: both grains and sweet corn can be clearly distinguished. Some caramel and pine wood as well. With a drop of water, citrus fruit is coming out. Taste: very spicy, with notes of sweet honey and brown sugar. Mint and vanilla too. Hints of leather. Finish with sweet vanilla and dry oak notes, nicely balanced.
Buffalo Trace, Warehouse I, Barrel 103 Buffalo Trace Distillery Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Warehouse I Barrel No. 103 "Personally Selected by A.J. of Liquor Mart" (located in Boulder, CO) 45% (90 proof)
By now, who hasn't experienced one of the great bourbon's or rye's that come from the sage hands at Buffalo Trace? If you haven't, consider yourself lucky as you're in for a treat!
Firstly, thanks to A.J. of Liquor Mart in Boulder, CO for having the gentlemanly sensibilities to select this unique and utterly gorgeous offering! As I understand it, the good folks at Buffalo Trace have been experimenting with variations with their barreling process. This is the first of 4 or 5 I have recently laid paws on. More to follow...
Tasting Notes
Color: Gold w/ streaks of light copper.
Nose: The corn comes through as baskets and baskets full of ripe black cherries, vanilla, and ethereal wisps of honey and spice with banana a late comer to the festivities, as is well oiled leather.
Taste: Whoa! The first mouthful yields a wave of deep, rich corn notes like a bold, spicy...buffalo...with more black cherry but less than the all-encompassing presence on the nose while also more subtle. Toffee, honey and loaded with spicy-sweet corn goodness. And spice. Revisiting the dram (and after my tongue mellows out from overly spicy Chile Rellenos), this beauty shows it's more tame side...
Finish: Caramel and spice, lingering rye-like and oak making a statement that explodes on the tongue and then dances and spins and...ah, what warmth!
In a round about way: An all-American bourbon that has me once again inspired after a series of flimsy excuses! A fourth of July firecracker that is launched from the nose, explodes in the mouth and sparkles down, down, down. Good fun this one is. What I'd imagine the Yankee cousin of Highland Park 12 yr. to be like.
what a great review, i like to look at the reviews for compairason while deciding on my evening drink. i'm gonna grab a couple ounces of buffalo trace right now! it's a great everyday drinker and a bargain
Tried at a whiskey tasting. Strong nose and hard on the palate. I was talking to guys that work for me about it and one tried it and liked it. He says "It'll cure you when you sick!" I guess they misunderstood that I could not stand this whiskey, so they bought me a bottle for Christmas. Still in my bar un-opened!
I think I understand the sentiment. When comparing the typical "budget" labels you can get in the grocery stores, vs. the "premium" labels only available in specialty stores, the quality difference is tremendous. Cheap Bowmore vs. expensive Bowmore; cheap Macallan vs. expensive Macallan; cheap Jameson vs. expensive Jameson; the list goes on. Also includes cheap Buffalo Trace vs. expensive BT. The differences are astonishing. I'd suggest trying BT's "antique collection" labels, such as Sazerac Rye or WL Weller. These are fabulous whiskies, not the crap otherwise that BT sells for $10/bottle at the corner gas station. (or the cheap crap that Bowmore/Macallan/Jameson/etc. sells; I suppose they have to make money somewhere)
Your taste buds are certainly different from mine! What in the world would you consider a good American whiskey? Buffalo Trace is the finest I've ever had for the price. Would you please send me that unopened bottle you have?
View more Buffalo Trace whiskies
@casualtorture It's been a while since I had Buffallo Trace, but I do remember there was quite a lot of variations from batch to batch going from bland to very good. It seems you had a lesser batch.