BOTM, 10/05: Buffalo Trace

I have been attempting to clear out (drink up!) my current bottles of Sazerac and Eagle Rare 17 to make room for the new ones coming out shortly. However, I decided to sample my first bourbon of the month, that being Wild Turkey Rare Breed (last years edition).

When I first got it I sampled it a few times and didn't know whether I really liked it or not. The last two samplings I took of it have been great. Lots of really nice flavors without any real bite to it if you ask me. It also goes REALLY nice with a cigar. This and Evan Williams Single Barrel have been my favorite stogie drinks thus far.

I will have some Buffalo Trace this weekend, I'm about 3/4 way through the bottle, and post that as well.

I'm a little over halfway through my first bottle of Buffalo Trace. This is the the Binny's Single Barrel version. I must say it is very good, and gets better and better after every drink. Now typically, I'm not good with any kind of tasting notes like some people here. I know what I like but I couldn't tell you whether it tasted like fresh fruit or fresh tobacco. However, this one is a little different. As God is my witness, I actually can compare it to something now!!! When, I was drinking it last night I could actually taste clove. Then, the aftertaste was like those little cinnamon mints you get in a tin. Yeah, my tasting notes need work but that's what it reminds me of. Anyway, wonderful bourbon and I can't wait til it comes to California on a regular basis!

That's truly an awesome choice! http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...lins/toast.gif Fortunately I bopught another bottle the other day. Maybe I'll celebrate and open it tonight/this morning. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...lins/smile.gif

I'm on my third bottle of BT. For $17.00, it is an outstanding drink. Last night I had a pour; it was after an Eagle Rare Single Barrel. The BT came across with a more pronounced buttery flavor, most enjoyable. I was worried it would'nt hold up after the ERSB, but it did quite nicely.

Does anyone know if the Binny's Single Barrel of Buffalo Trace is bottled before or after the bourbon is re-barreled? Just curious. Thanks!

Mark

I would guess that, since that is a single barrel product, there would be no need to re-barrel it. I believe the standard BT is re-barreled after all the barrels are mingled together. This would provide a product that could be bottled in stages while still being consistant, at least for a short time.

It's dangerously drinkable. Tonight I was a little careless as I tried to give myself a generous pour in the rocks glass I've been using lately. I ended up closer to four ounces than two. I considered getting out a funnel and putting half back in the bottle, but I decided it was too much trouble. Now I'm less than an ounce away from finishing the glass.

Unlike most of my semi-regular pours, BT has no flinch-factor, even at first sip. Tonight I found the similarity to sherry, which I've mentioned before, even stronger than usual. And yes, it still borders on being too sweet, but only in comparison to what I consider the norm for bourbon. Taken on its own, it's delicious.

Even so, I still crave a litte tang, a little bite . . . a little something to balance the sweetness. I still haven't tried blending in a few drops of WT 101, but someday I will.

One thing I will never try is mixing it with ginger ale or any other component that conveys sweetness. BT has plenty already.

What is the best thing one can do to improve the flavor of Buffalo Trace? Just what I suspect the Buffalo Trace Distillery does; let it age in charred oak about five more years and then put it in a fancy, square cross-section bottle that goes for $40 a pop.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

I had a go at this one yesterday and I must say that i find it to be thoroughly enjoyable.

I didn´t get to try this one until early this year and I was really taken aback by it´s awesome complexity, especially for a whiskey that carries no age-statement or small-batch/single barrel tag.


To me it seems to have a little bit of everything. Just the right amount of spice, hedonistic butteriness and, best of all, a delicious fruitiness which sort of meanders along amidst the other flavours. Afte a minute or so, it settles down at the back of the tongue, leaving the field to firm corn and biting spice.

The finish is somewhat anonymous but in all, I would say that this would make a good ambassador for the Bourbon cause.

Incidentally, when BT was released in Sweden at the tag end of last year, it did receive a nice write-up in Sweden´s leading morning paper. The first one I´ve seen since I got into Bourbon in a big way. Hope we get to keep this one, Ken!

BT has become my daily pour --- both because of its consistent quality and taste and because the BT folks are among the friendliest and customer-focused in the industry.

I had a chance to do a personal taste comparison of the following:
- Buffalo Trace
- Buffalo Trace single-barrel (this from a "honey barrel" bottling done for the Cork & Bottle liquor stores in Northern KY)
- Elmer T. Lee

I could definitely taste the similarities in all three. In fact, the last two were almost indistinguishable. (The BT single barrel a huge bargain at $19.97!)

Is BT made from the same mash bill as Elmer T. Lee?

Buffalo Trace comes from BT Mash Bill #1, whereas, Elmer T. Lee comes from BT Mash Bill #2. However, I must admit that Elmer was the one who choose the flavor profile for both bourbons. I have to admit they have a flavor profile that is not too far apart.

Ken