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Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Liquor Review Category:
Bourbon American Whiskey
Producer:
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Owner:
Sazerac
Website: http://www.buffalotrace.com
Origin:
Kentucky
United States
Age: N/A
Price (USD): $25
Price (EUR): €19
Proof: 90.0
(41 reviews) Please login or create an account to review this spirit.
Liquor Review Notes:
One doesn't often think of buffalo in Kentucky but the distillery takes its name from the buffalo path (or "trace") that led to the banks of the Kentucky River in Franklin County. Buffalo Trace Distillery takes pride in the limestone water (being notably free of iron) and good soil conditions for grain. The site has had a working distillery since 1787 but the official Buffalo Trace first began operation in 1857. It obtained one of only four permits offered during Prohibition to maintain production for "medicinal purposes." Today, the distillery sits on a picturesque 119 acres and produces several labels of bourbon.
Buffalo Trace was named Distillery of the Year by the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon--the namesake and flagship of the distillery--is one of the more famous bourbons out of Kentucky. It uses a distinct mash bill of Indian corn, rye, and barley. They take especial care in their barrel selection using "center ring" wood from trees between 70 and 80 years old. They claim to have the highest rejection rate for barrels in the industry. The whiskey chill-filtered and bottled for a taste that "pleasantly sweet" with a "long dry finish."
2012 Update: with their double-gold award at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this bourbon solidifies its standing as one of the top-rated bourbons on our website, which makes it stand out from more famous and greatly more expensive scotch and similar whiskey. For more about our scoring methodology, a lot of answers are here. But seeing this humble bourbon among such luminaries, it draws questioning glances at its score. For that reason, it's worth reiterating: this is a bourbon that has, year over year, consistently received very high ratings from a number of critical bodies; our system at Proof66 is designed to reward that fact. From our standpoint, exposing the consistent excellent ratings of more humble spirits is exactly what our work here in liquor is designed to do.
Buffalo Trace featured on BlueKitchen.net as part of their "Best Bourbon" tour saying: "It is a nice bourbon with vanilla aroma and a sweet taste."
UPC/EAN Barcodes:
080244009236, 080244009212
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By: Thor_Foote (10) 5/21/2013Cheers!(0)A very good bourbon at a ridiculously low price. You can find better, but you'll pay LOTS more; and nothing that costs up to 3 times as much per bottle is even close. The standard of value for mass-produced bourbons & TN whiskeys.
By: jaketaz (31) 5/14/2013Cheers!(1)Complex, subtle, smooth, and cheap! Not much to say that hasn't been said - a widely available and quite versatile bourbon that does just as well in an Old Fashioned as in vanilla pudding. Better than bourbons twice and thrice the cost, I would pick it over anything from Maker's to Basil Hayden's. I've tasted many expensive bourbons searching for something better, and have yet to find it.
By: Quetzal (40) 3/29/2013Cheers!(0)(4 out of 5). Believe the hype. A delicious, nicely priced bourbon that is consistently tasty and easy to find. I love pouring it into a glencairn nosing glass and just taking a whiff every few minutes to see the changes. And that's just the nose! Lovely, complex flavor and finish.
By: cincyhound (4) 02/08/2013Cheers!(0)Buffalo Trace makes some of favorite bourbons, but this certainly isnt one of them. I just dont get the high ratings it receives. I do keep some around though - for mixed drinks and cooking.
By: Burks (12) 2/5/2013Cheers!(0)Nothing really special here. Better than a lot of mainstream bourbons, but I don't taste or find anything special with it. Fairly disappointed considering the hype behind this. A great mixer at best. Subpar straight up.
Won't be purchasing again.
P.S. I'm not a fan of anything American really. I've yet to find anything to hold a candle to even a $50 scotch.
By: Therion (17) 1/31/2013Cheers!(0)Never been a big bourbon fan, but this was something different. Absolutely love it mixed with coke, not a huge fan of the woody flavours imparted on whiskey when drunk straight but I can see myself appreciating this on the rocks if I had no mixers - something I could only say about good scotch.
By: thark77 (12) 1/3/2013Cheers!(0)Too earthy, tastes like bark fell in the cask. It's ok, but not crazy about it.
By: bdehoog (73) 11/20/2012Cheers!(0)Definitely my go to bourbon. I'm a big fan of basically everything they produce. I like the higher proof - 90 - and mix with a splash of cold water. I wish the whiskey was not chill filtered.
By: tequilaguy (15) 11/16/2012Cheers!(0)First bottle of Bourbon i tried.. Hated it at first.. But after about a year of working myself up to it i finally could appreciate the complexity and flavor.. Smooth and Flavorful bourbon that was great neat... Wasnt the best Whiskey in the house mixed because of the strong flavor and smoky-ness.. Great Bourbon, worth buying a bottle for the Bar!
By: DonnyPussy (1) 11/11/2012Cheers!(0)In 2000 I visited the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Old school place with the gate guard going to work on a big cigar. Classic. I tried and puchaced a bottle of this stuff. Back then it was sporting Frankfurt County Bourbon of the Yearaward. When I got it back to seattle me and my best friend sat down and drank the whole damn thing. We both agreed that it was the best boubon ever. Now it is everywhere and I had it first! I knew it was gold. Drink it up players.
By: ProfessorCocktail (49) 10/1/2012Cheers!(0)Sweet on the nose, but spicy on the palate. Smooth yet bold, this is a good, straight-ahead bourbon, and a fine value for the money. Buffalo Trace is a classic, a whiskey you can always turn to for a satisfying drink.
For more reviews, including the results of our bourbon taste tests, please visit ProfessorCocktail.com.
For more reviews, including the results of our bourbon taste tests, please visit ProfessorCocktail.com.
By: ohio_outlaw (9) 9/14/2012Cheers!(1)Don't really need to say anything that hasn't already said, but this is not only a good relatively cheap bourbon but one of the best around. $22 where I live-a steal.
By: StanMemTn (58) 9/9/2012Cheers!(0)Smooth, round bourbon. Has all the notes I'm looking for. This bourbon fills the same role as Maker's Mark. They can be had reasonably and offer a premium (if not super-premium) product.
By: TimeToGoHome (27) 7/26/2012Cheers!(0)Opened the bottle and poured a dram. First sip had a slight chemical smell. Sat the glass down for a couple of minutes and had another sip. Yummy, rich, complex. Poured another w/ some water. Still good but thinner. Better neat.
By: ryanofwaco (1) 06/06/2012Cheers!(0)Buffalo Trace is good but I cant believe anyone would honestly think its better than other non-premium bourbons like Makers, Pogue, Woodford, Elmer T Lee, etc. And dont even begin the comparison to premiums like Blantons.
By: scalihan (24) 06/06/2012Cheers!(1)Its the best. Dont contemplate. Buy a bottle and get Shelled. Theres no reason not to like this. Btw, Clint Shell still rules.
By: LiquorBox21X (25) 3/28/2012Cheers!(0)If you want to find damn good bourbon at a damn good price- start with Buffalo Trace! It is available in 50ml samplers so give it a try!
By: Storcke (13) 12/25/2011Cheers!(1)Of the bourbons I love (Bulleit, Eagle Rare, Woodford Reserve--forget those special batches which are generally harsher or less flavorful or both), this is my favorite. Nose is caramel, smoke, lavender, fruit. Taste is so complex and so delicate that a specific list is impossible, but in general spicy, sweet, fruity, flowery, smoky, caramel, all evident but not excessive. Slight corn sweetness. Very smooth but with a charred oak bite. My favorite bourbon at ANY price.
By: degbert (116) 12/16/2011Cheers!(1)Nose is all fruit, but the palate is crisp and somewhat dry with smoke on the finish. This is basic bourbon, tasty straight, but not so expensive you'd mind mixing it.
By: 11Johnathan11 (12) 11/26/2011Cheers!(0)The reviews were all great...Maybe I got a bad bottle. It tastes like moldy wood. I do like how it separates in your mouth, however I can't get past the moldy wood flavor. There are definitely a lot of better bourbons.
By: aslezak (25) 9/26/2011Cheers!(0)This bourbon is excellent on the rocks. There are hints of cinnamon with other sweet spices, without being syrupy like some more popular brands. It probably deserves 5 stars but I have yet to try it on the rocks. Definitely worth a purchase.
By: Alchemist (51) 9/10/2011Cheers!(1)The nose is fruity, sweet and spicy with rum notes. The body arrives very sweet then becomes spicy with light pepper in the background. The creamy sweetness carries through with a short but intense bitter edge in finish. Aftertaste is bittersweet and mellow. Very good value.
By: bigdaddyb (9) 07/29/2011Cheers!(0)Dry and a bit understated. Its an interesting has some nice complexity if you take it slow and ponder it.
Affordable and unbeatable at the price.
By: hounddog (1) 4/30/2011Cheers!(1)This bourbon is awesome. I have turned others on to it.--and the price is right!
By: TheSippingLife (112) 4/27/2011Cheers!(1)This is now my favorite sub-$30 bourbon. A great range of complexity, with that bourbon bite. And if you add just a 1/4 teaspoon of water to a glass, it sings while accompanied by a smoothness I have gotten from few whiskies. I'm usually not one to go on about different flavor "notes", but you get a lot of things, such as powdered sugar, molasses, coffee, toffee, etc. BT is worth every penny, and maybe a few more than you will pay for it. Highly recommended stuff.
By: mvg1 (21) 3/12/2011Cheers!(1)Best bourban out there for the money it just has this extra layer of flavor than your knob creek, makers mark, evan williams and others. Also smooth and has a great color. 5*****s
By: Whiskeyjack (4) 12/29/2010Cheers!(1)Forget best bourbon; this is the best *liquor* available at this price point, period.
By: PerrinBash (65) 9/11/2010Cheers!(0)I am not a whiskey Drinker by any means so 3 stars is about as high as my ratings will be for whiskeys. Trace is very woody and that flavor carries forward when used in cocktails.
By: manikmathur (16) 9/11/2010Cheers!(1)A true Bourbon , with its own character and flavor. No sweetness a bold flavor but smooth on the way down
By: ChrisCarlsson (328) 8/28/2010Cheers!(0)A very easy to drink, quality bourbon, mellow and rich at a
great price. A wonderful rich bourbon that puts the other bourbons in its price range to shame. There are few others that are is good for the money and they make most of them.
By: Irishman (207) 6/15/2010Cheers!(1)I'm not sure bourbon gets any better than this at this price point. Fantastic!
By: tehsuck (1) 4/21/2009Cheers!(1)I was first introduced to BT when my father started drinking it while I was visiting him in Louisville, KY. I still have yet to taste a bourbon that is better for the price. Great smokiness and not overly sweet.
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