American whiskey collectors know Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky well. It produces Pappy Van Winkle in partnership with the Van Winkle family and releases the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) of limited edition bourbon and rye whiskeys each year. But the brand's core bourbon expression, the affordable and reliable Buffalo Trace Bourbon, is also worth trying.
Buffalo Trace may not be the flashiest bottle on the market, but it's one of the cheapest whiskeys on the market and a reliable favorite of many in the spirits industry.
“What can I say about Buffalo Trace that hasn't been said before? “It may be the most sought-after whiskey under $40 on the market,” says Ben Wald, spirits expert and head of beverage programming at The Flatiron Room in New York City. “It's a perfect 90-degree fit and has this amazing red fruit look out for it that keeps me coming back for more every time.”
Mike Vacheresse, owner of Travel Bar in Brooklyn, says this bourbon is a mainstay of his business for these reasons and more: “My love for Buffalo Trace Bourbon predates my ownership of a whiskey bar. Buffalo Trace Distillery's flagship brand it's commendable that it's so drinkable and that the distillery has made the leap to high-end brands to produce a solid bet.
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Read on to learn more about Buffalo Trace Bourbon, but if you're interested in more whiskey reviews, check out our in-depth reviews of Wild Turkey 101, Basil Hayden, and Four Roses.
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Buffalo Trace Bourbon at a Glance
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- In conclusion: Buffalo Trace is a solid bourbon that you can usually find for less than $40. It works well alone or in cocktails.
- Medicine: Bourbon
- barrels: Newly charred oak
- Still: Column photos
- ABV: 45 percent (90 proof)
- Age: NAS (at least four years old)
- Appearance: Dark copper
- Nose: Vanilla, brown sugar, molasses
- mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth
- Taste: Caramel, vanilla, honey, ripe fruits, cinnamon
- come to an end: A little warmth and a little sweetness
Pros and Cons of Buffalo Trace Bourbon
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
excellent value |
A little on the younger side |
90 proof means more flavor and complexity |
More expensive than some similar bourbons |
It works well in cocktails, but is also good enough to sip on its own. |
Buffalo Trace Bourbon Review
With so much temptation in the form of limited-edition, dedicated whiskeys, it's hard to focus on a strong bourbon like Buffalo Trace Bourbon, especially when they all come from the same distillery.
Sazerac-owned Buffalo Trace Distillery is also home to Pappy and BTAC, as well as popular brands such as Weller, EH Taylor and Blanton's. These are all great, but some might argue that a few of them are overrated and not really worth the time and expense to get a bottle. But that's definitely not the case with Buffalo Trace Bourbon. It's easy to find, relatively affordable, and delicious.
“Buffalo Trace produces some of the most sought-after luxury bourbons on the market and serves as a conduit to introduce consumers to the wild world of American whiskey,” says Wald. “Master distiller Harlen Wheatley continues to experiment and push the boundaries.”
That may be the case when it comes to the distillery's Warehouse X, which has been used for nearly a decade as a controlled environment to mature barrels and study the effects of different variables on whiskey as it ages. But the essence of Buffalo Trace Bourbon is exactly the opposite; It is a consistent work.
Although the distillery doesn't disclose the exact mash bill, Buffalo Trace Bourbon is made with only about 10 percent rye. Although it has little spice, it is definitely not a saccharine sipper. Its glass has a dark copper appearance. Notes of vanilla, brown sugar and molasses are presented on the nose, followed by a creamy and smooth mouthfeel with flavors of caramel, honey, vanilla, strawberry and cinnamon. There's just a hint of warmth and sweetness on the finish. You know exactly what you're going to get when you open a bottle; The classic bourbon flavor profile of a middle-aged whiskey that you can drink any way you want.
How to Drink Buffalo Trace?
Drink your whiskey the way you like it, regardless of style, proof or age. To get to know any whiskey I always recommend starting by pouring it properly first, and at 90 proof Buffalo Trace has a little more heat on the palate than you might be used to if you're a novice.
This higher ABV also means it stands up to other ingredients in a cocktail and doesn't get lost in the mix.
“Buffalo Trace at the Flatiron Room makes a great whiskey sour,” says Wald. “The red fruit flavors and high strength pair really nicely with the texture of the egg whites and traditional sour citrus.”
Vacheresse recommends using the boulevard, the whiskey version of the Negroni: “The rich flavors perfectly balance the bitter aperitif and sweet vermouth of this classic cocktail.”
History of Buffalo Trace
Author Clay Risen details the history of Buffalo Trace Distillery in his book Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey.
“Located on the banks of the Kentucky River near downtown Frankfort, the state capital, this facility is also one of the oldest active distilleries in the country,” he writes. “There is evidence of whiskey being made on his land as early as 1775.”
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Over the past few centuries the distillery has had several different names. This is Edmund H. Taylor Jr. and whiskey, which was the home of such important figures in bourbon history as George T. Stagg.
It wasn't called Buffalo Trace until Sazerac bought it in 1999; this was also the year that its eponymous flagship bourbon was first released. Harlen Wheatley took over as master distiller a few years later in 2005 and has been running the whiskey production operation there for almost two decades.
How to Make a Buffalo Trace?
Buffalo Trace is made similarly to other Kentucky bourbons. The mash bill contains more than the required 51 percent corn, along with some rye and malted barley.
Once the mash is cooked, yeast is added and allowed to ferment for up to five days to produce alcohol and flavor esters. This liquid enters a giant column, followed by a clincher, where it is transformed into high-proof white dog or uncured whiskey.
This liquid then goes into new charred oak barrels for at least four years, sometimes up to six years or more, and much longer than other high-end expressions produced at the distillery.
If You Love Buffalo Trace, You'll Also Love These…
Evan Williams Bourbon
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Evans Williams Bourbon is supplied by Heaven Hill, another major Kentucky distillery. It is bottled at a slightly lower proof than Buffalo Trace, but has aged similarly and has all the right notes. Evan Williams' single-barrel and small-batch versions can also be tried, but the core bourbon is an affordable option that won't disappoint.
Michter's US 1 Bourbon
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Michter's US 1 Bourbon is a little pricier than Buffalo Trace, but it's worth trying if you haven't tried it before. At 91.4 proof it's slightly stronger than Buffalo Trace, but it's an interesting comparison whiskey with similar vanilla, caramel and brown sugar notes and a bit more spice on the palate.
Bulleteit Bourbon
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Unlike Buffalo Trace, Bulleit Bourbon is made with high rye mashbill. Owned by beverage giant Diageo, Bulleit can be found in almost every bar and liquor store across the country. It's a relatively affordable, easy-drinking whiskey priced similarly to a bottle of Buffalo Trace.
Why Should You Trust Me?
I have written about spirits in numerous publications for a decade. During this time, I tasted thousands of bottles from every spirit category, visited distilleries around the world to see how juice is made, and honed my palate and nose.
I also judge two spirits competitions, the John Barleycorn Awards and the New York World Wine and Spirits Competition, where I blind taste hundreds of spirits to determine what stands out based on taste, mouthfeel, color and aroma.
For this review, I tried Buffalo Trace neat, on the rocks, and in cocktails, and spoke with some experts to provide insight and context about the brand.
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