BOTM Dec09: Buffalo Trace

[camduncan]

This months BOTM is in honour of Buffalo Trace finally making it into the Aussie Market (it's been a long road). It's been a BOTM before, and is well worth doing again, so here's what Jeff said about this great value bourbon to start the BOTM back in March 2005: "Second to none in quality and value. Buffalo Trace, both as a brand and a distillery, embodies all of the tradition of the past, and the best of the modern art of bourbon making. Join me in raising a glass in honor of December's BOTM: Buffalo Trace"

Now what say you?

Sound Off

[OscarV]

To grassy for me, never cared for it.
But glad to hear you guys Down Under are getting something new.

[Stones]

Can't wait to try it!

[fishnbowljoe]

I think I posted this about another bourbon before, but my analogy pertains to BT too. You all know Goldilocks and the three bears, right? Well, "This bourbon is too sweet. This bourbon is too spicy. This bourbon is just right. Mmmmmm." To me, BT is kinda just right. A little spicyness, + a little sweetness = a flavor that is very well balanced. I can taste a little leather and tobacco, which is the spicy part. Plus there's an underlying sweetness I can't quite put my finger on. Caramel or candy corn perhaps? The price is usually pretty decent, which makes this bourbon a pretty good value too. All in all a very nice bourbon. I'll always have one or two in my cabinet. Joe

PS. The combination of leather and tobacco might be the grassy flavor that Oscar alluded to.

[ebo]

I think I posted this about another bourbon before, but my analogy pertains to BT too. You all know Goldilocks and the three bears, right? Well, "This bourbon is too sweet. This bourbon is too spicy. This bourbon is just right. Mmmmmm." To me, BT is kinda just right. A little spicyness, + a little sweetness = a flavor that is very well balanced. I can taste a little leather and tobacco, which is the spicy part. Plus there's an underlying sweetness I can't quite put my finger on. Caramel or candy corn perhaps? The price is usually pretty decent, which makes this bourbon a pretty good value too. All in all a very nice bourbon. I'll always have one or two in my cabinet. Joe

PS. The combination of leather and tobacco might be the grassy flavor that Oscar alluded to.

I agree. BT to me is like Highland Park 12 Scotch... a great all arounder.

[funknik]

To me, BT is kinda just right. A little spicyness, + a little sweetness = a flavor that is very well balanced. I can taste a little leather and tobacco, which is the spicy part. Plus there's an underlying sweetness I can't quite put my finger on. Caramel or candy corn perhaps?

I'll absolutely second Joe's comments here -- I've been enjoying a newly opened bottle for a few days now. I describe the underlying sweetness as "toasted marshmallow" and I really think that this is the best deal out there for $20. I will add that I think BT is a really good first drink of the night but may suffer after some bolder pours. This has the leather & tobacco hints that I love in a good bourbon without the bitter rye notes that seem to overwhelm the offerings from the second BT mashbill.

[George]

I'm torn on BT. I bought a couple bottles a while back at about $22 each. I thought the juice was pretty good at that price. It's now up in the $27-30 range around here, and I'm not sure I'd pay that much for it.

[Josh]

I didn't care for BT when I first tried it, but I had a private sb version of it last year and quite enjoyed it.

The marshmallow is definately there, but on my bottle I picked up a lot of spice as well, cassia , nutmeg and a lot of allspice. Good stuff, I think! Maybe now that BT has seen MI right with some more BTAC, I'll pick up a bottle.

[ratcheer]

They have started stocking BT at Alabama ABC, but they are charging a fortune for it, around $35. I would like to scrape up the funds to try a bottle, though. We'll see.

Tim

[SMOWK]

I've bought a few bottles from my local LCB. They hand select barrels from Buffalo Trace and sell them exclusively. I'll also add that they are the only store within 30+ miles that carries BT. This may be why I haven't liked any of the stuff I've tried, it's all the same batch.

Due to the BOTM rating, I shall grab another and post comments. If I don't like it, I've got a father who just loves hand me downs.