People are irrational actors. We don’t always make rational choices and we are often driven by emotion. For example, you don’t have to look much farther than toilet paper hoarding which was common in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. These days, it can be seen in local liquor stores where individuals rush to buy up core expressions, such as Buffalo Trace Bourbon, leaving nothing except empty space behind.
COVID-19 disrupted every aspect of life when it appeared in late 2019 and proceeded to wreak havoc on the world in 2020. Although whiskey production was not directly affected, supply chain problems and hoarding by consumers likely contributed to distribution challenges. Finding some bottles in the liquor store these days is harder.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon has been one of the more challenging core expressions to find. On social media, it isn’t uncommon to find individuals posting images of the 7 bottles of Buffalo Trace Bourbon purchased from their local liquor store. The response by some other individuals seems to be to follow suit and buy out the entire stock of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, or at least as much as the local liquor store will allow them to buy. Just like toilet paper, some people can’t stop themselves from hoarding.
Sazerac Company
The owners of Buffalo Trace are the Sazerac Company, which is one of the largest spirits producers in the world. Besides Buffalo Trace, the company is known for producing a number of highly sought-after whiskeys. From Pappy to Weller, to Blanton’s, they are all made by Buffalo Trace. The hype surrounding those brands was likely to trickle down to core expressions. But the real question is whether the hype is actually worth it.
About Buffalo Trace Bourbon
Buffalo Trace is pretty secretive about the mash bill for each of their whiskeys. Unlike other whiskeys we’ve reviewed, a quick google search returned limited results. The most information I could find came from Paste Magazine. Even then, the specific details are light. Buffalo Trace Bourbon is likely a low rye mash bill, meaning less than 10% of the mash is from rye. To be a bourbon, the mash bill must contain at least 51% corn. Other than that, there isn’t much else we know. It’s just another secret along with the recipe for Coke, the special sauce on the Big Mac, or the Colonel’s blend of herbs and spices.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon does not have an age statement on the bottle. Estimates tend to vary from website to website. 8 years seems to be the consensus, but that doesn’t mean younger or older whiskey won’t end up in the bottle. Buffalo Trace Bourbon is bottled at a respectable 90-proof.
According to the Buffalo Trace website, you’ll find mint, vanilla, and molasses on the nose. On the palate, BT says you’ll notice brown sugar and spice, along with oak, toffee, anise, and dark fruit.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, I definitely noticed the mint and vanilla. Perhaps I was swayed by the website? On the palate, I picked up dark fruit and burnt sugar. There was a hint of mint, along with a strong oak finish. The intensity was moderate, with a relatively short finish compared to similarly proofed whiskeys.
Alie picked up notes of fruit on the nose, with a little mint. She noticed a spiciness, like cinnamon along with the sweet aroma. Alie noted that Buffalo Trace Bourbon was easy to drink with strong notes of vanilla and was a pretty solid sipper.
Buffalo Trace works well in cocktails, especially those with a mint kick. We liked it best in our Whiskey Mint Lemonade. You can find the recipe here.
Our Ratings
Drinkability: 4
Personal Preference: 4.2
Intensity: 2.7
Beginner Friendly: 3.7
Availability: 4
Overall: 4
Final Thoughts
Buffalo Trace Bourbon is a solid bourbon. It has a nice flavor profile that leans heavily toward oak, but with enough vanilla sweetness to balance the flavor. While it isn’t worth scarfing up every bottle at the liquor store, it is worth an occasional splurge. We picked up the 1.75L for about $50 from the local liquor store.
Buffalo Trace doesn’t have a lot of intensity. It leaves a bit to be desired, at least as it pertains to the finish. Although we enjoy the flavor, I would consider buying it more often if the proof were a bit higher or the finish a little warmer or the warmth lingered a little longer. It is good, but it leaves me wanting more.
Considering the price of Buffalo Trace is inflated it is hard to justify as a daily drinker. For the money, I’d rather splurge on Eagle Rare, which has similar flavors, but it has a little more intensity and the flavor lingers a bit longer. If you can find Buffalo Trace in your neighborhood for under $25, it is worth a try. However, I hope you’ll be courteous and leave a few bottles behind for the next person.
Happy Exploring!
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