Every Whiskey Made at Buffalo Trace Distillery: The Complete Guide

1. Buffalo Trace

The bottle that carries the distillery’s name is also one of the most important bourbons of the modern era.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon is made from the distillery’s low-rye Mash Bill #1. It’s believed to be aged for around eight years and bottled at 90 proof. There’s no age statement, but the maturity shows. This is a balanced, approachable bourbon with classic notes of vanilla, caramel, soft spice, and oak.

Despite being the flagship, Buffalo Trace Bourbon has become harder to find in recent years. It’s still technically part of the distillery’s core range, but limited allocations and soaring demand mean it doesn’t always stay on shelves for long, particularly in its home market. 

If you’re new to the brand, this is where to begin. It sets the tone for everything Buffalo Trace produces.

2. Eagle Rare

Eagle Rare was created in 1975 as a premium alternative to standard bourbons, and it’s now one of Buffalo Trace’s most respected labels. It uses Mash Bill #1, the same low-rye recipe found in Buffalo Trace Bourbon, but with longer aging and more selective barrel picking.

The brand is best known for its core 10-year expression, but two other ultra-aged editions have joined the lineup in recent years.

Current Releases:

Eagle Rare 10 Year Old

Aged a full decade and bottled at 90 proof, this is a bold but elegant bourbon with notes of orange peel, toasted oak, cocoa, and subtle herbs. This is one of the most accessible age-stated bourbons from the distillery, though it’s increasingly allocated.

Eagle Rare 12 Year Old

Once part of the original Antique Collection lineup, this expression has been retired but occasionally resurfaces as a private selection or special release. 

Eagle Rare 25 Year Old

Launched in 2023, this ultra-aged bourbon is bottled at 101 proof and housed in a bespoke crystal decanter. It’s one of the oldest bourbons ever released by Buffalo Trace, with extremely limited distribution and a price tag to match.

Eagle Rare continues to represent the distillery’s commitment to long-aged bourbon, with a flavor profile that leans dry, oak-forward, and refined.

3. Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr.

Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. is one of the founding fathers of modern bourbon. A 19th-century distiller and reformer, he championed the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 and built the O.F.C. Distillery — now known as Buffalo Trace.

The E.H. Taylor Jr. line honors his legacy with bottled-in-bond releases and special editions that reflect both tradition and innovation. 

This range leans collectible but remains grounded in quality. It’s well-known among whiskey lovers for its balance, structure, and layered flavor.

Releases Include:

• Small Batch
• Single Barrel
• Barrel Proof
• Straight Rye
• Barrel Proof Rye
• 18 Year Marriage
• Amaranth “Grain of the Gods”
• Four Grain
• Cured Oak
• Old Fashioned Sour Mash
• Warehouse C Bourbon
• Warehouse C Tornado Surviving
• Distiller’s Council

Some of these are annual or semi-regular releases. Others, like Tornado Surviving and Four Grain, were one-offs that now fetch high prices on the secondary market.

E.H. Taylor whiskeys are often among the most allocated in Buffalo Trace’s portfolio, but they remain widely admired for offering depth without overwhelming intensity.

4. Van Winkle Collection

There’s whiskey, and then there’s Pappy.

The Van Winkle Collection is the most famous and most sought-after group of wheated bourbons in the world. Produced by Buffalo Trace in partnership with the Van Winkle family since 2002, these whiskeys use the same wheated mash bill found in Weller, but undergo longer aging and more selective barrel curation.

What sets this range apart is consistency, depth of flavor, and time. Long time. Bottles are released just once a year, and demand always exceeds supply by a mile.

Current Releases:

• Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year
• Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year “Lot B”
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year 
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 Year
• Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year

Each expression offers increasing complexity and oak influence as you move up in age. The 10 and 12 year bottles are already rich and well-integrated. The 15, 20, and 23 bring more dried fruit, leather, and old wood while keeping the signature wheated softness. The 13 Year Rye is the only rye in the lineup and is equally rare.

Retail prices are reasonable considering their prestige, but these bottles are almost never found at retail. They’re released in the autumn through highly controlled allocations and lotteries.

5. George T. Stagg / Stagg

Named after one of bourbon’s earliest giants, the George T. Stagg brand stands for power, age, and unfiltered intensity. These are bold, barrel-proof bourbons made with Mash Bill #1, and they’ve become must-haves for collectors chasing deep flavor and high proof.

There are two distinct releases under the Stagg name:

George T. Stagg

This is part of the annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. It’s always uncut and unfiltered, and typically aged 15 to 18 years. Proof can range from the low 120s to over 140, depending on the vintage.

Despite its strength, George T. Stagg is known for balance — with rich notes of dark chocolate, cherry, tobacco, leather, and toasted oak. It regularly wins top awards and is considered one of the finest barrel-proof bourbons on the market.

Availability: Once per year in extremely limited quantities.

Stagg

Formerly known as Stagg Jr., this is a younger, more regularly released version of the same style. It’s also barrel proof, non-chill filtered, and made from Mash Bill #1.

Each batch has its own profile, but common threads include bold dark fruit, cinnamon, vanilla, and charred oak. It’s aggressive in proof but smooths out with a splash of water.

Unlike its older sibling, Stagg is now released multiple times a year, making it one of the most accessible barrel-proof bourbons Buffalo Trace produces, if you can beat the rush.

6. Sazerac Rye

Buffalo Trace is best known for bourbon, but its rye portfolio holds real historical weight. Sazerac Rye is named after the Sazerac Coffee House in New Orleans, the birthplace of the original Sazerac cocktail. The brand pays tribute to one of America’s oldest whiskey styles — with expressions that range from accessible to elite.

All Sazerac ryes are made with Buffalo Trace’s proprietary rye mash bill, offering a blend of spice, sweetness, and complexity.

Current Releases:

Sazerac Rye

Known affectionately as “Baby Saz,” this is the most available expression. Aged for around six years and bottled at 90 proof, it’s mellow yet structured, with notes of clove, citrus peel, honey, and cinnamon. Perfect in a classic Sazerac or enjoyed neat.

Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old

Released annually as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, this is an elegant, oak-driven rye with impressive smoothness and subtle depth. Expect flavors of dried fruit, old wood, toffee, and mint. Bottled at 90 proof, it’s one of the few ryes aged this long.

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac

The most explosive rye in the lineup. This uncut, unfiltered barrel-proof expression typically clocks in well above 125 proof and is known for bold notes of cinnamon, clove, dark sugar, and leather. Another BTAC release, it’s named after the 19th-century bartender who helped popularize the Sazerac cocktail.

These ryes offer three tiers of intensity, from the cocktail-friendly to the connoisseur-grade. All are highly regarded and, increasingly, highly sought after.

7. Blanton’s

Blanton’s is widely credited as the world’s first commercially released single barrel bourbon. Introduced in 1984 and named after former distillery president Albert B. Blanton, it changed the way bourbon was marketed and perceived.

Blanton’s is made with Mash Bill #2, the high-rye recipe also used in Elmer T. Lee and Ancient Age. All barrels are aged in Warehouse H, the only metal-clad warehouse at the distillery — known for its faster-aging conditions.

Each bottle comes from a single barrel and is hand-labeled with bottling details. The iconic horse-and-jockey stopper has also become a collector’s item on its own.

US-Available Releases:

Blanton’s Single Barrel 

The original. Notes of vanilla, honey, orange zest, nutmeg, and oak, with a smooth finish and just enough spice. Widely admired for its balance and elegance.

Blanton’s Gold Edition 

A higher-proof version originally made for export markets. Richer and fuller-bodied, with deeper spice and a longer finish. Now occasionally available in the US.

Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel 

Uncut and unfiltered, this is the boldest of the lineup. Flavors vary by barrel, but expect concentrated notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, cinnamon, and heavy oak. Hugely popular with collectors.

All Blanton’s expressions are single barrel, so each bottle offers subtle differences — but the high quality remains a constant. Availability is limited across the board.

8. Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel

Elmer T. Lee wasn’t just a master distiller — he was a pioneer. He introduced the world to single barrel bourbon with Blanton’s in the 1980s and helped redefine what premium American whiskey could be.

His namesake bottle, Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel, is made using Mash Bill #2 and typically aged around nine years, though it carries no age statement. It’s bottled at 90 proof, and every barrel is selected for balance and character.

The flavor profile is soft and refined: honey, clove, toasted oak, and dark fruit with a warm, lingering finish. 

Although it was once widely available, this bottle is now released in limited quantities and often sold through lotteries or at marked-up prices. Still, it remains a favorite among longtime fans for its smooth, consistent quality.

9. W.L. Weller Series

W.L. Weller is often called the original wheated bourbon, and for good reason. William Larue Weller was one of the first distillers to use wheat instead of rye in the mash bill, resulting in a softer, sweeter flavor profile that’s become a Buffalo Trace signature.

The modern Weller line uses the same wheated mash bill as the Van Winkle Collection, which has made these bottles incredibly popular. While they’re more available than Pappy, demand still outpaces supply.

Current Releases:

Special Reserve

The most accessible Weller. Light and smooth with notes of vanilla, caramel, and soft spice.

Antique 107

Higher proof and richer flavor. More oak and cinnamon, with a warming finish.

Weller 12 Year 

Often called a “poor man’s Pappy,” this one shows mature oak, dark fruit, and long aging.

Full Proof 

Unfiltered and bold. Deep caramel and toasted oak, with heat and structure.

C.Y.P.B. 

Short for “Craft Your Perfect Bourbon,” this fan-designed bottle is elegant, creamy, and limited.

Single Barrel 

Introduced in 2020. Varies barrel to barrel, but keeps the Weller DNA.

William Larue Weller

Part of the Antique Collection. Barrel proof and unfiltered. Always one of the highest-rated whiskeys of the year.

Daniel Weller

A newer line exploring ancient grains, starting with Emmer wheat. It’s experimental, ultra-limited, and pricey.

Weller Millennium

Extremely limited release with luxury packaging. Often considered a showpiece bottle.

Every Weller has a distinct identity, but all share a common softness and depth from the wheat. If you enjoy smooth, rich bourbon without sharp spice, Weller is worth the hunt.

10. Traveller Whiskey

Traveller Whiskey is a collaboration between Buffalo Trace and country singer Chris Stapleton. It was created to be an approachable, everyday pour that reflects both Stapleton’s taste and the distillery’s craftsmanship.

Blended by Buffalo Trace’s master distiller Harlen Wheatley, Traveller is a blend of whiskeys drawn from the distillery’s stocks. It’s bottled at 90 proof, with a smooth profile of caramel, baking spice, toasted oak, and a light finish.

Traveller is aimed squarely at casual drinkers and newcomers to bourbon. It’s meant to be easygoing, mixable, and broadly appealing — and it’s been released in wide distribution.

11. Old Charter / Old Charter Oak

Old Charter is one of Buffalo Trace’s historic labels, originally launched in the 19th century. Today, the standard Old Charter 8 is a mild, 80-proof bourbon intended for easy sipping or mixing.

More interesting is the Old Charter Oak series — a limited-edition line exploring how different oak species affect bourbon aging. Each release uses the same mash bill but is aged in barrels made from a specific type of oak.

Releases have included:

• French Oak
• Chinkapin Oak
• Mongolian Oak
• Canadian Oak

Each expression is unique in flavor and character. They’re released periodically in small batches and are well-regarded by collectors.

12. Benchmark Series

Benchmark is Buffalo Trace’s value line, originally named McAfee’s Benchmark Old No. 8. It’s made with Mash Bill #1 and offers solid bourbon at a budget-friendly price.

In recent years, the brand expanded into a range of higher-proof expressions, giving drinkers more variety without the cost.

Current Releases:

• Benchmark Bourbon – Light and approachable.
• Top Floor – Aged on warehouse top floors for added oak.
• Small Batch – Blended for balance and depth.
• Bonded – Bottled-in-bond with classic structure.
• Full Proof – Uncut, bold, and spicy.
• Single Barrel – Barrel-specific character with extra nuance.

These are widely available in the U.S. and offer a low-cost way to explore different strengths and aging conditions.

13. Ancient Age

Ancient Age is a long-running label designed to be affordable and easy to drink, with a lighter body and classic bourbon notes.

Available versions include:

• Ancient Age (80 proof)
• Ancient Age 90 (90 proof)
• Ancient Age 10 Star – Often confused with a 10-year bourbon, but not age-stated.

Expect flavors of caramel, vanilla, and mild spice, with a quick, clean finish. It’s a solid option for cocktails or everyday sipping on a budget.

14. White Dog

White Dog is unaged whiskey – the clear spirit that comes off the still before it goes into barrels. Buffalo Trace bottles it to give drinkers a taste of what bourbon starts as.

It’s bottled at 125 proof and comes in three mash bill variants:

• Mash #1 
• Wheated Mash
• Rye Mash

White Dog is fiery, grain-forward, and surprisingly sweet. It’s mostly a novelty or educational bottle, though some use it in cocktails or infusions.

15. Bourbon Cream

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream blends the distillery’s namesake bourbon with rich dairy cream to create a smooth, dessert-style liqueur. Bottled at 30 proof, it’s sweet, creamy, and easy to drink.

Flavors include vanilla, caramel, and soft spice, with a velvety texture. It’s excellent over ice, in coffee, or mixed into cocktails. A popular serve is the Buffalo Float — bourbon cream and root beer.

Unlike most Buffalo Trace bottles, this one is easy to find and widely distributed.

16. Kosher Whiskeys

Buffalo Trace partnered with the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc) to produce a line of kosher-certified whiskeys, ensuring they meet Jewish dietary laws year-round (excluding Passover).

These are aged in specially designated barrels and bottled after Passover each year. All are 94 proof and aged around 7 years.

Current Releases:

• Kosher Wheat Recipe Bourbon – Soft and sweet, similar to Weller.
• Kosher Rye Recipe Bourbon – Spicier, closer to Buffalo Trace Bourbon.
• Kosher Straight Rye – Made with the distillery’s rye mash bill.
• Kosher or not, they’re well-made and increasingly popular with collectors.
  
  

17. Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)

Released every autumn in extremely limited quantities, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is a showcase of the distillery’s finest aged whiskeys. Each bottle is uncut, unfiltered, or exceptionally mature — and all five are highly sought after.

Annual Releases:

George T. Stagg

Barrel-proof bourbon aged around 15–18 years. Deep, dark, and intense. Regularly scores among the top-rated bourbons in the world.

William Larue Weller

Uncut wheated bourbon, typically aged 12–14 years. Rich, sweet, and full-bodied.

Thomas H. Handy

Barrel-proof straight rye. Bold, spicy, and explosive in flavor.

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old

Mature, oak-driven bourbon bottled at 101 proof. Dry and refined. This was my favourite whiskey in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2025.

Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old 

Long-aged, 90-proof rye with smooth, herbal complexity.

BTAC bottles are extremely limited and often allocated through lotteries. Secondary prices are high, but the quality is consistently exceptional.

18. Prohibition Collection

Buffalo Trace launched the Prohibition Collection in 2023 as a tribute to the brands it legally produced during Prohibition under a medicinal license. The collection features five historically inspired whiskeys, each with its own style and mash bill.

2025 Releases:

• Mirror Brook
• Very Oldest Procurable
• Anderson’s Belle
• Old Fashioned Mountain Corn
• Silver Wedding Rye Whiskey

Each is bottled at a unique proof and showcases different bourbon and rye profiles. The set comes in 375ml bottles, packaged in a wooden display case.

This is a once-a-year limited release aimed at collectors, history lovers, and serious fans of the distillery.

19. Experimental Collection

Buffalo Trace’s Experimental Collection is where the distillery tests the limits of whiskey-making. With more than 30,000 experimental barrels aging in its warehouses, this series explores everything from unique grains to barrel treatments to climate control.

Each release is bottled in 375ml format and comes with detailed notes on what was tested.

Past experiments have included:

• Unusual grains (rice, oats, brown rice)
• Different oak species and toasting levels
• Entry proof variations
• Warehouse X climate experiments

These whiskeys are released in very small batches and are often only available at the distillery or select retailers. They’re prized by collectors and whiskey geeks alike for offering a rare glimpse into the science behind the spirit.

20. O.F.C. Vintages

The O.F.C. Vintages are some of the rarest and most luxurious bourbons Buffalo Trace has ever released. Named after the Old Fashioned Copper Distillery, this line features vintage-dated bottles, often aged 25 years or more.

Each release is housed in a hand-cut crystal decanter and wooden case. 

These bottles are typically offered through charity auctions or private allocations, not general retail. When they do appear, prices run into the thousands

While nearly impossible to obtain, O.F.C. Vintages represent the peak of Buffalo Trace’s long-term aging program.

21. Single Oak Project

The Single Oak Project was one of the most ambitious whiskey experiments ever undertaken. Buffalo Trace released 192 unique bourbons, each made from a different combination of barrel variables — including wood grain, tree location, seasoning, char level, and warehouse position.

Bottled between 2011 and 2014, each 375ml bottle was labeled and tracked online, where fans could rate and review their favorites.

While it’s no longer in production, the Single Oak Project remains a landmark study in how small details shape bourbon character.

How to Find Buffalo Trace Whiskeys

Buffalo Trace whiskeys range from everyday bottles to ultra-rare releases, and availability depends heavily on where you live and what you’re looking for.

What’s Easy(ish) to Find:

• Buffalo Trace Bourbon
• Benchmark Series
• Bourbon Cream
• Traveller Whiskey
• Kosher Whiskeys (in some U.S. markets)

These are regularly produced and widely distributed, though Buffalo Trace Bourbon can still be tricky in high-demand areas.

What’s Allocated or Limited:

• Eagle Rare
• Blanton’s
• E.H. Taylor
• Weller Series
• Sazerac Rye
• Anything in the Antique Collection, Van Winkle line, or Experimental Series

These bottles are often released just once a year in small quantities. Many stores sell them via lottery or keep them behind the counter for regular customers.

Tips:

• Check local whiskey forums and mailing lists for drop alerts.
• Visit the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky — some bottles are sold only on-site.

In the UK and Europe, look for Blanton’s Gold or Straight From the Barrel, which are more commonly exported.

For highly allocated bottles, patience and persistence are key.

Where to Start, What to Chase

Buffalo Trace Distillery produces some of the most iconic whiskeys in the world, and some of the hardest to find. But you don’t need a unicorn bottle to appreciate what makes this place special.

Start with what’s available. Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, or a bottle from the Benchmark or Kosher ranges can give you a real sense of the house style. If you’re lucky enough to spot a Weller, Blanton’s, or E.H. Taylor, even better.

For collectors, the chase is part of the experience. From the Antique Collection to O.F.C. Vintages, Buffalo Trace offers layers of rarity, complexity, and history that reward exploration.

No matter your level of interest — whether you’re sipping a neat pour or lining up before dawn — there’s something in this lineup worth discovering.

And that’s what keeps people coming back.