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Bourbon - Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace
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Buffalo Trace Bourbon
Buffalo Trace Distillery - (Frankfort, Kentucky)
Grain - Corn (at least 51%), Rye, Barley
PROOF: 90 Proof (45%)
AGE: No Age Statement ( Best Guess 7-9 Years Old )
TYPE: Small Batch
PRICE: $ 17 - $ 25 750 ML
Notes: This whiskey is produced at the scenic Buffalo Trace Distillery in
Frankfort (close to Woodford Reserve Distillery if you are touring) home
of numerous other whiskies such as Eagle Rare 10 year-old, Eagle Rare 17 year-old, Blanton's, Rock Hill Farms, Hancock Reserve, and Elmer T.Lee. (See our Adventure Section for a tour of the distillery). This is not a single barrel (see above) but a small batch from the mixing of 25-30 barrels per batch from the sweet spots in the middle of I ,C, and K warehouses.
Appearance: Wonderful golden red in the bottle, more gold / bronze in the
glass.
First Impression:
Corn and rye, which end up smelling like vanilla and mint.
You can smell the oaks influence on the whiskey in the peppery scent towards
the end. Nice edge line on the glass when you swirl it and some legs to it.
Mint/vanilla comes out more after a while along with a cardomon scent.
Taste: Wonderful thick mouthfeel, warming but not burning at first. Smooth
sweet honeyed notes with oak pepperiness at the end and a aftertaste of
vanilla, fruits, mint and a warming heat. Goes down the throat with a warming
pleasant burn. Lets you know you are drinking whiskey but doesn't punish you
for it.
Drinks: Makes a great Manhattan or Old Fashioned. Stands up well to the
vermouth in a Manhattan (any of the basic 3 types) and mixes well for the
Old Fashioned. Unlike some high end bourbons, it doesn't give a lot of ground
to the other ingredients and so produces a good balance in a drink - it also doesn't get lost in, or overpower the other ingredients.
Final Thoughts:
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.
Bottle: The clear glass showd the whiskey to good effect. Coupled wth the old- style shape and torn parchment style label it is easy to spot. The graphics
and collar band are also well done, in a minimal sort of way. The ergonomics
of the bottle make it easy to grasp and pour (especially the neck), but
also give the impression os solidity and heft. The attention to detail is
not only in the whiskey, but extends to the packaging as well.
Website: http://www.buffalotrace.com
Beware the Buffalo! No, that is not your computer acting up, it is the
snorting buffalo. After you get past that (note to webmaster, please
lengthen the time interval between snorts), you go to a old pioneeer style
map that is the site map. Loads of information on every aspect of the
distillery. Check out the distillery webcams when you get a chance. An
interesting and excellent approach to a web page that allows you to see
everything laid out quickly and precisely. Probably the most precise and
comprehensive site I have ever seen, it sets an industry standard.
Overall rating:
