Whiskey Review: Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Infrared Light Wave

A little flat in terms of complexity. Brown sugar, then some sharp, acidic notes. Hot on the finish. Thoughts: It tastes much like the average bottle of Buffalo Trace. Which isn’t a terrible thing. I mean, what, did you think the infrared light was going to make it taste like Pop Rocks? Score: 80/100 II. 30 minutes of barrel exposure to infrared light Vital Stats: Same as above. Appearance: Identical color. Nose: Less floral and more woody. Palate: Much softer on the palate, leaning strongly toward oak, but still smokeless. Tannins, raisins, and plums abound, almost as if it had been finished in a port barrel. Considerably less heat, which is replaced with cinnamon and black pepper on the finish. This one’s clearly preferable to the 15-min version and—I’ll just say it—better than the average bottle of Buffalo Trace. Thoughts: The only prescription is… more infrared? Score: 85/100 Final Thoughts: This is a silly experiment. To put it another way, I love it. If the work being done in Warehouse X results in new trends in the whiskey world, that’s fantastic—infrared whiskey for everyone! But if not, I’ll still applaud the effort. The major distilleries have mastered the craft in many ways, producing consistent and tasty spirits at every price point. No, I don’t need something different. But I like imagining that the future of whiskey isn’t just a matter of new marketing gimmicks—it may, instead, be in the hands of some very clever and innovative distillers, scientists, and lovable mischief-makers at both the smallest and biggest operations. I’m looking forward with a grin to whatever they have up their sleeves.