Buffalo Trace Bourbon

The bourbon world is getting crowded for sure, but there are always a few standards to go back to time and time again. Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon is one of those to keep on hand and come back to whenever the dizzying array of available whiskeys starts to get overwhelming. Buffalo Trace is a hot name in whiskeys right now, holding some of the biggest names in the game including Eagle Rare, Elmer T. Lee, the line of Weller bourbons, and the famous Pappy Van Winkles to name just a few. The regular bourbon, however, is no slouch.

This bourbon comes from Buffalo Trace’s mashbill #1, the exact recipe for which remains a mystery to everyone outside of the process. What we do know is that it is a low-rye recipe (likely less than 10%), and is the same mashbill used to make their flagship bourbon, Eagle Rare, the line of E.H. Taylor bourbons, and the George T. Stagg. The result is an easy drinking, smooth, and well balanced bourbon that fits any whiskey drinker’s palate. It is a classic example of a Kentucky straight bourbon which makes it a great benchmark for gauging other bourbons that you may be curious about. It has all of the classic vanilla, toffee, oak, and honey tones that you expect from a bourbon without skewing too strongly in any one particular direction. As the distillery’s flagship brand, it defines exactly what a classic bourbon should be and at a great price. While it does not bring anything particularly unique to the table, it stands as a great example of the style and a fine addition to any home bar.