Description
About Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
The distillery’s flagship bourbon has been made using the same process for over 200 years. Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from a mash of yellow #2 dent corn, plump rye grains and malted barley, which is cooked and cooled before being fermented for approximately 3-5 days. Once fermentation is complete, the bourbon is double-distilled through column stills before being aged in first-fill, American oak barrels (90% of the distillery’s oak is brought in from the Ozark Mountains) that have been aged for six months in the distillery’s yard before being heavily charred.
What It Is & Key Specs
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Ownership | Buffalo Trace Distillery, Kentucky, USA; owned by the Sazerac Company. |
| Product Type | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. (“Straight” means it meets the legal minimums: at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, etc.) |
| ABV / Proof | 45% ABV (90 proof) |
| Age Statement | NAS (No Age Statement) — it doesn’t carry a fixed age on the label. |
| Mash Bill / Style | Uses a “low-rye” mash bill (majority corn, some rye + barley malt) typical of Buffalo Trace’s standard recipe. |
| Barrel / Maturation | Aged in new charred American oak barrels, stored in century‑old warehouses. The barrels are charred “#4.” |
Flavor Profile & Tasting Notes
Here’s what people commonly pick up — aromatics, flavors, finish:
| Phase | What You Might Smell / Taste / Feel |
|---|---|
| Nose / Aroma | Vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar; touches of mint; molasses; dark fruit; hints of oak and spice. |
| Palate / Taste | Sweet start: caramel, butterscotch, toffee; fruit notes (apple or citrus) underlaid with oak; baking spices like cinnamon and maybe a little pepper; some oak‐driven woodiness. |
| Finish | Smooth and lingering; oak and spice linger after sweetness; overall balanced — not harsh, but with oak presence. |
Strengths & What It Does Well
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Approachability: It’s often recommended as a great “everyday bourbon” — accessible, not overly complex, but with enough depth to keep interest.
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Balance: The combination of sweet, spicy, and oak notes is fairly harmonious. The oak doesn’t overwhelm; sweetness (vanilla, caramel) does a lot of the lifting.
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Heritage & Consistency: Buffalo Trace has been around for a long time, with strong reputation. This expression is their flagship, so quality control tends to be good.
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Value for Quality: For many markets, this offers excellent quality for the price — especially compared to more expensive older or single barrel options.
Weaknesses / Things Some Users Might Not Like
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NAS / Unknown Exact Age: Without an age statement, you may get variability; some bottles may seem more “young” or show sharper oak than others.
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Oak / wood influence: As it ages, the oak character increases — some find it slightly dry or tannic on the finish, depending on batch.
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Proof not extremely high: While 45% ABV gives good flavour, it’s not super strong. If you like bolder proofs, this may not hit that level of intensity.
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Not very experimental: For those who like heavily peated, smoky, exotic‑cask finished bourbons or ultra‑old expressions, Buffalo Trace is more “classic bourbon” than experimental.
Who It’s Good For
This bourbon is likely to appeal to you if you:
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Enjoy sweet, somewhat rich bourbons with vanilla, caramel, fruit, and oak, and don’t need super heavy smoke or peat.
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Want something you can drink neat, or with a splash of water, that’s reliable.
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Appreciate heritage brands and good craftsmanship.
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Want good value — getting solid bourbon flavour without paying high premiums for aged or rare bottles.
It might be less ideal if you:
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Prefer very strong, high‑proof whiskies.
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Seek heavily peated or smoky styles.
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Want ultra‑mature or very old whiskey — this one isn’t about extreme age.
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