Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

The Buffalo Trace Distillery has had a few names in it’s history. Old Fashioned Copper, George T Stagg and in 1999, owners the Sazerac Company Inc, gave it it’s current namesake. 

The name comes from the paths created by Buffalo as they crossed the American wilderness and one such path led up to the banks of the Kentucky River where the distillery is located.

BT was introduced in August 1999 following the distillery’s name change and the profile was created by former master distiller Elmer T Lee using their mash bill #1 using corn, rye and barley and uses barrels that come from the middle floors of the rickhouses which have been matured for 8-10 years, bottled at 90 proof.

Buffalo Trace (90 proof/45% abv) $31    (Aged 8-10 years)

Mash bill #1 – contains 10% or less rye

Nose: Vanilla frosting, caramel and brown sugar. Orange peel, cherries, cinnamon and nutmeg. Fresh peach, marzipan and pepper. Toasted oak along with some shoe polish and black coffee.

Palate: A nice mouthfeel here – Caramel sauce, vanilla cream, corn syrup, cherry, apple pie and little touch of rye spice with cinnamon hots, clove and a green chilli pepper. Perhaps orange bitters at the end.

Finish: On the cusp of medium with baking spices, orange and cherries and caramel waffles.

Score: 7 out of 10

Overall: A fantastic bourbon for the money….scratch that just a really good bourbon full stop. Definitely a step up over the 40% version the UK & Ireland receive.

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