BOTM, 10/05: Buffalo Trace

[DrinkyBanjo]

After drinking a few BT's tonight I had a Russell Reserve 101 to finish off the night. I must say it is a lot spicier than BT. Again as my previous post mentions my bottle of BT is a bit old and low, really low now!

Must get another bottle of BT soon to do compare these to great whiskies again! But as of right now, which I'm sure my taste buds are a bit fried, I prefer the Russell Reserve 101.

[Gillman]

I agree with Tim's take (I sampled the regular issue, bought here in Toronto). It is not a very complex drink but is deep and satisfying, a good whiskey to drink neat. In fact this is the kind of palate I try to get by blending and it is kind of a cross between the regular Blanton and Elmer T. Lee. I think it is improved since the first bottlings. The current ones are smoother, sweeter with less of a minty edge than the first. Very good quality, there is no better for the money and many worse.

Gary

P.S. Recently a friend found an old tall square bottle of Ancient Age 107 which he says I left there many years ago. I tried some and it is really good. Similar to the current Buffalo Trace but better I think with all the extra proof on top, yet somehow smoothed down from what I recall years ago (the years in the bottle helped, I think). It reminded me also of the early 90's bonded Ancient Age I bought in St. Thomas last year but was better: fuller, richer, bigger.

[Ubertaster]

Sorry I'm late on this post but I have to comment on this fine bourbon. I am new to premium bourbon tasting and being a member of this forum but I am enjoying my adventure. This is the first time I have poured Buffalo Trace and actually the first time I have seen it. It is not available in this area so I had to get it via online shopping. This bourbon is very enjoyable without any cringe at all. I would recommend this bourbon to any new taster or experienced taster who has not tried it. If I were on a desert island and had only one choice this would be it [under $50]. Oh-no here comes a case of Jim Beam white label floating up on the beach.

bj

[Gillman]

Just a quick note that a current bottle of Trace failed to please as much as the bottle mentioned in my post earlier on this thread. The current one (which may not be typical of course) seems older and less well balanced. It is not musty but has an earthy quality that may come from the way the barrels interracted, it is just this particular batch or bottling I think. I think I preferred it when the whiskey was younger and had a more defined spearmint edge.

I am a big fan of all Buffalo Trace bourbons. I have no doubt it will return to form.

I find as time goes on I tend to prefer bourbon at 4-6-8 years age expression. The wood seems to get in the way too often with the older ones. This is why I think I like Rare Breed and other bourbons based on the younger side of the range with some older whiskey added for seasoning and balance.

Gary

[drli]

really like everything from Buffalo Trace.....

I really like Buffalo Trace even though I can not get it local here in NCA. I have to order it from Online places like Binnys.

I have also bought back bottles from MT while visiting my folks.

Why can't we get this fine bourbon here?? In Ca there are people that enjoy fine bourbon, Too!

[cowdery]

Buffalo Trace, the distillery, is slowly but surely rolling Buffalo Trace, the brand, out nationally. The limitation is the amount of whiskey available each year that meets the brand's taste profile. They have more in the pipeline so they are able to add markets each year. I don't know where it stands today but it's still far from national.

However, if you can make a friend at a major retailer and bug them enough to get them to bug their Buffalo Trace (the distillery) distributor enough, they may do a special, limited distribution. For example, because of that sort of pressure, Binny's and Sam's had it here in Chicago, even though it wasn't technically "in" Illinois at the time.

[TNbourbon]

I poured from a standard Buffalo Trace bottle for the first time in quite a while tonight, and several things struck me:

• Generally, I'll stand by what I said back in post #27 in this thread;
• I would not be disappointed to find a bourbon I like this much in a bottle that cost twice its price; and
• I like the musty earthiness upon which many have commented, in the same way that I enjoy standing in a bourbon warehouse and taking in the interaction of the whiskey, old wood (both barrels and ricks) and dusty slivers of light. This tastes like that smells and looks.

[Sweetmeats]

I cannot distinguish "musty earthiness" as a flavor yet. I finally got a grip on "woodiness." Sooner or later.

[Ken Weber]

When I was younger, my family would go on vacation. Being one of five boys, staying in a hotel was beyond our means. So dad bought an old canvas tent from Louisville Tent & Awning, my grandmother mended the tears and fixed the zipper. We spent every summer vacation for nearly a dozen years sleeping in that thing. It had a special smell, canvas wetted by the morning dew, perhaps a little mildew. That is a smell that some would turn up their nose at; I find it particularly evocative. The same can be said of Buffalo Trace. The first samples I tasted had a smell that reminded me of something - turns out it was my camping experiences. I used to refer to the smell as fresh dirt, however, this does not necessarily connote a positive impression! So we opted for "earthiness." Still, it is a smell that I absolutely love. When I open a new bottle at a tasting or for company, I always smell it first. This always portends the goodness in store - except for the time I got a corked bottle which was like mildewy convas on steroids!!

Ken

[BrbnBorderline]

Been a while since I had any Trace in the house. Bought 2 bottles last week. Sure am enjoying it, especially for the price.