Is Buffalo Trace a good "go to" pour?

[Mashface]

I just finished off my last bottle of WR and now I'm in the market looking for something else. I found BT at my local liquor store for $24 and was wondering if that's too high for a regular drink. I don't want bottom shelf like JBW or JD. Is BT a good mixer also? If you can suggest something else by all means do. Thanks!

[felthove]

BT is definitely a great all around pour. Great balance and seems to be favored by most that try it. Personally I think it lacks some of the unique personality and characteristics exhibited by other bourbons and thus I don't find myself "craving" it very often. However, it is flawless and tasty and you cannot go wrong w/ it in your cupboard.

[NickAtMartinis]

For the buck, I'd say Weller Antique is a great buy ($18.99).

Also, I am now able to get ORVW 10/107 for $25.49 in my area. And, I don't think that's too high for a "go to" pour. In fact, I just purchase four bottles at mentioned price the other day. But, if you want a cheaper ORVW that is still a solid bourbon for a good price, go with the ORVW 10/90 ($20.99).

As far as availability, the Weller Antique is always available but the ORVW isn't. So, I'd define "go to" pour as a bourbon that's good quality for a good value (both mentioned are) and easily accessible like the Weller.

In my opinion, the current bottling of Old Fitz BIB is also a good bourbon for the value. I think I purchased my lone one liter bottle for $19.99. They're also available in the 1.75 liter.

Other additions:

OGD BIB (less than $20)

OGD 114 (less than $25) - I'd recommend this over the BIB.

Wild Turkey 101 (less than $20)

If you like wheated bourbon, go with the former recommendations and if you like a more rye'd bourbon then go with the latter.

[fog]

I found BT at my local liquor store for $24 and was wondering if that's too high for a regular drink.

We cannot answer that for you. If it is worth it to you, then it is not too high.

[StraightBoston]

It's a better value on sale at $19.99, but the answer to your original question is "Yes!" (Especially compared to WR...)

[jbaker]

BT is definitely worth looking into. A tasty all-around bourbon. Another great all-around (that mixes well, but can also perform neat) is W. L. Weller 7 year Special Reserve. It's usually under $15/750 and is my house bourbon. It was ubiquitous around here, but lately there's been a dearth, so I'm not sure who can find it. (We're supposedly the biggest account for that one in the state, but they say that they don't have any for us...)

[jburlowski]

BT is my everyday pour.

[Dr. François]

BT is my standard, always available bourbon. When I pick it up in CO in a 1.75l bottle, the cost-per-fifth comes down to around 15 or 16 bucks.

However...

I'm a big fan of the current bottling of EC12. It's cheaper, and I think it's more complex. I feel guilty mixing it, though. Then again, I don't mix my BT.

[Old Lamplighter]

As for a regular or "go to" pour, I would say BT fits into that category fairly well, but, not for $24 IMHO. My personal ceiling for a "go to" bottle is $20. In my neighborhood that usually includes Weller Antique, Weller 12 and OC10 (if you can still find it).

[Dr. François]

In my neighborhood that usually includes Weller Antique, Weller 12 and OC10 (if you can still find it).

Is OC10 on the way out? If so, I'm bunkering! It just underwent a label overhaul, too.

Does anyone know about this?

[jbaker]

Is OC10 on the way out? If so, I'm bunkering! It just underwent a label overhaul, too.

Does anyone know about this?

I know that the distributor will be sold out until March/April in Eastern TN. But I don't think it's being disco-ed.

[New2Whiskey]

What is a "go to" pour? I'm not understanding. I have Buffalo Trace and I'm happy (or maybe I'm not) to say it's almost gone. I bought it on sale for $18.99 (750ml). The only other bourbon I had was Old Grand Dad.

So I will be in the market now for my 3rd bottle. But....this Buffalo Trace....I really like it (of course that is based on only tasting 1 other bourbon). Out of all the spirits I own (Tres Mujeres Tequila, Rubi Rey Rum, Sobieski Vodka, Dewar's 12 Year Old blended whiskey, Claude Chatelier XO Extra Cognac), it disappeared the fastest. In other words, I liked it a lot so I keep pouring. Needless to say, it was the last spirit I purchased also. So..you get an idea.

But what is defined a 'go to' pour?

[ILLfarmboy]

But what is defined a 'go to' pour?

You're always "goin' to" the bottle to pour ya some more. Alternately, its something that is flavorful enough to be satisfying but its not overly challenging and so you find yourself frequently "goin' to" the bottle to pour ya some more.

And yes, Buffalo Trace, for a lot of us, fits that description.

[SMOWK]

I've only tried it once, and I hated it. Supposedly the bottle I got was hand selected by one of the reps from the liquor board in my county. It was terrible, I had a couple pours and had to hand it over to a "friend". I would buy it again though, because I've heard good things, and it can't be that bad. Maybe the rep was a vodka drinker..??

SMOWK

[Old Lamplighter]

I know that the distributor will be sold out until March/April in Eastern TN. But I don't think it's being disco-ed.

Last I heard was that it would be available again in mid to late Spring. Just none right now.

[OscarV]

Besides Eagle Rare Single Barrel I would say that Buffalo Trace is my least favorite bourbon from the Buffalo Trace Distillery.

[SBOmarc]

Besides Eagle Rare Single Barrel I would say that Buffalo Trace is my least favorite bourbon from the Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Those are some harsh words, don't totally agree. Then again I had to wait for quite a long time before I tasted the standard Buffalo Trace.

I do enjoy the Eagle Rare SB though. To each his own, it would be boring if we all liked the same pours.

[OscarV]

Those are some harsh words, don't totally agree. Then again I had to wait for quite a long time before I tasted the standard Buffalo Trace.

I do enjoy the Eagle Rare SB though. To each his own, it would be boring if we all liked the same pours.

Nah, those aren't harsh words, of all the bourbons that Buffalo Trace produces ERSB is at the bottom of my list and BT is one notch up.

Something has to be on the bottom.

[NickAtMartinis]

Besides Eagle Rare Single Barrel I would say that Buffalo Trace is my least favorite bourbon from the Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Oscar, is it the tea leave smell/taste of the ER that bothers you?

[OscarV]

Oscar, is it the tea leave smell/taste of the ER that bothers you?

ER is weak and boring to me, no depth, quick finish.

Also I still have a chip on my shoulder from them dropping ER101.

Now that is one of my all time favorites.

[ILLfarmboy]

Nah, those aren't harsh words, of all the bourbons that Buffalo Trace produces ERSB is at the bottom of my list and BT is one notch up.

Something has to be on the bottom.

Well, I like BT precisely because of its singularnes. In other words, to my taste, it boldly represents the house style that is evident in other BT bottlings. I simply don't pick up the mustiness others talk about. Or, perhaps, its precisely that bold defining characteristic, that I like, that so many other folks think of as mustiness?

In any case, Its too bad you don't like it, Oscar. Do you find BT musty, or is it something else?

[OscarV]

There are a lot of bourbons that I like and BT is one, but time is short and I seem to get drunk when I drink to many.

I just finished a bottle of BT, I drank it mostly on the rocks and I liked it, but neat is how I drink a bourbon that I love.

And yeah a little musty, but good.

Ok let me rank the Buffalo Trace bourbons in groups, A my favorite, D my least favorite. (no Van Winkles, I consider that seperate from BT.)

Group A;

All the Weller's

Rock Hill Farms

Group B;

Blanton's

Elmer T Lee

Old Charter

Group C;

Ancient Age

Virginia Gentlemen

Group D;

Buffalo Trace

Eagle Rare Single Barrel

Hancock's

Benchmark

[NickAtMartinis]

Oscar, I'm drinking RHF as I type. I love the aroma of this bourbon but the flavor doesn't live up to the smell, in my opinion. That is not to say, I don't like it or even that I think it to be average. In fact, I do like it. But there was that little bit of letdown from the nose to the 'buds.

Mark

P.S. I find that the RHF - my lone bottle, anyway - has an ever so slight mustiness in the flavor. It's not off-putting by any means. Actually, I feel it lends some character to the bourbon.

[SBOmarc]

The folks at the Trace must know that although all of us drink the fine offerings available to us, we do like some more than others.

And it's personal.

[snakster]

I vote yes. Of course here in PA it's only 19.99 and the 1.75L is 39.99.

That said, if I'm really piching my pennies, my recent discovery of Weller Antique is a REAL winner at about 17.99 (16.99 on sale next month!!!). I also like the Elijah Craig 12 yo which is only sold in 1.75L here in PA for just over $30.

But to reiterate my answer to the original question. YES!