Review #4: Buffalo Trace Straight Kentucky Bourbon

Welcome to our Shelter in Bourbon series. You may not be able to go outside, but at least you don't have to be socially distant from your bottles.

Intro:

Our next bourbon comes from the distillery carrying its namesake nestled on the shores of the Kentucky River and is the first of the more reasonably priced bourbons. The price point is in the mid-to-upper $20 for a 750mL bottle, but that might be changing. We’ve noticed in the stores around us that the once bountiful supply on the shelf is turning into more of a scarcity.

It’s hard to tell if this is intentional by the company or reflective of actual market demand. Considering Buffalo Trace also distills rarer brands such as Blanton’s and, through an agreement with the family, Pappy Van Winkel, they may be taking a page out of that playbook to create some scarcity. That being said, we would understand if demand is outpacing supply give the awards this recipe continues to garner.

Buffalo Trace

The Backstory:

The Buffalo Trace distillery is one of three distilleries enjoying landmark status in the state of Kentucky. The other two are Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve. The distillery was founded over 200 years ago in 1792 and has gone by several names since then, including the George T. Stagg Distillery and the Old Fire Copper Distillery. It wasn’t until 1999 that the Buffalo Trace name was introduced. The distillery is now owned by the Sazerac Company, which is in the middle of a multi-billion-dollar capital investment campaign to grow the distillery to meet national and international demand.

The Kentucky Straight Bourbon was introduced in 1999 and continues to gain in popularity. The bourbon itself does not have an aging label, but a tour and tasting at the distillery indicates they tend to age this recipe for around six years. The bourbon has 45% Alcohol by Volume with a proof of 90.

This recipe continues to win awards in various regional, national, and international spirit competitions. Most recently a Silver Outstanding – Whiskies of the World and Double Gold Medal – North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition.

Tasting Notes:

According to Buffalo Trace: This deep amber whiskey has a complex aroma of vanilla, mint, and molasses. Pleasantly sweet to the taste with notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak, toffee, dark fruit, and anise. The whiskey finishes long and smooth with serious depth.

According to Him: The smell and first sips take you back to the first time you entered a barrel house with that sweet and damp air consisting of the Angels Share. The first few sips have a little spice on the tongue, but definitely more pronounced in the back of your pallet. It’s an embracing, but not overpower hug. It’s a lasting finish that ricochets around the mouth and even a little bit on the lips. The first few sips are sweeter (with a lot of those vanilla and caramel barrel sugars coming through), but with each additional sip, I get more spice and oak. Compared with other bourbons the finish is a bit dryer for me.

According to Her: Buffalo Trace is a recent favorite of mine. I love it because it’s just as good on its own as it is mixed in an old fashioned.

Okay he nailed it when he said it smells the way a barrel house smells. I wish they made candles that encapsulated that sweet barrel house aroma (side note: if you don’t know the smell we’re describing, do yourself a favor and plan a trip to the bourbon trail!).

On the nose it is sweet with a hints of caramel and toffee. At first sip it is smooth. I get hints of oak, chocolate, toffee, caramel, and a bit of dried cherries. If you like full bodied, flavorful bourbons you should definitely give Buffalo Trace a try. It’s sweeter than it is spicy.

The Rating:

This truly is a solid bourbon. The combination of price and flavor make it a great every day bourbon or one to be used in cocktails. If you’ve ever taken a distillery tour (reach out to us for tips if not), you know that distinctive smell of the Angels Share when you first enter the barrel house. This is the first bourbon we’ve found that has a taste that is able to capture the essence of that smell.

It works great as a mixing bourbon as it tends to hold its flavor when diluted with different mixers. Regardless of your drink, you will still get that same Buffalo Trace flavor coming through.

3.5 out of 5 Glasses. We decided to rate this a little higher, primarily because we love to use it in a nice Bourbon Old Fashioned. This one is sitting firmly on the middle shelf, front and center for all to see.