Buffalo Trace Distillery is continuing its journey into the UK market with the release of the 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Launched in the US last month, the Antique Collection contains six rare whiskeys from the distillery’s most iconic brands, inspired by the people that put the world’s most awarded distillery on the map.
This launch celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and sees the first new addition to the lineup in almost two decades.
“Every whiskey in the Antique Collection is a reflection of the care, precision, and patience that define Buffalo Trace Distillery,” explained Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley.
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“Since the collection’s creation 25 years ago, we’ve stayed true to our motto – ‘honour tradition, embrace change’, upholding the same principles of craftsmanship as those who came before us,” he added.
The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection will be available for purchase from selected retailers, including Harrods, Hedonism, and Fortnum and Mason, beginning mid-December for £150 per bottle.
Stay Tuned For The Full Breakdown
I was fortunate enough to attend an exclusive preview tasting of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2025 at The Savoy in London last night. It offered a first glimpse of how each expression will land with UK drinkers, and I will be sharing a full breakdown of the tasting – including impressions, stand-out moments, and comparative notes – very soon.
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READ THE STORYBuffalo Trace Antique Collection 2025
E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
The first addition to the BTAC since 2006, E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon was aged for a staggering 15 years and 4 months before bottling.
Its extended aging produced notes of “caramel and spice with gentle wood notes, finishing with oak, vanilla, soft caramel and a touch of cherry.”
The whiskey pays tribute to its namesake, Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., a previous owner of what was then the O.F.C. Distillery, and an instrumental figure in passing the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.
Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Returning as one of the Antique Collection’s most sought-after releases, the 2025 Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon pays homage to the original 1975 Eagle Rare brand with its signature 101-proof bottling.
Aged well beyond its stated 17 years – spending 18 years and 4 months in the warehouse – this year’s edition opens with aromas of dark tobacco and worn leather lifted by ripe cherry and a peppery brightness.
On the palate, caramel sweetness weaves through supple leather and cherry notes, while the finish lingers with polished oak, soft vanilla, and a gentle echo of sweetness.
George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon
George T. Stagg remains the powerhouse of the Antique Collection – an uncut, unapologetically bold bourbon honouring the whiskey pioneer who bought the O.F.C. Distillery from Colonel E.H. Taylor in 1878.
First released in 2002 to meet surging demand for well-aged, barrel-proof whiskey, this year’s batch was drawn from barrels aged more than 15 years and 4 months.
The 2025 Stagg is one of the strongest expressions in recent memory, bottled at an uncompromising 142.8 proof. It opens with deep oak and a touch of vanilla on the nose, leading to a palate of bold vanilla layered with dark tobacco and ripe cherry. The finish is long and earthy with persistent notes of tobacco, vanilla, and oak.
Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye traces its lineage to the Sazerac House in New Orleans, the birthplace of the Sazerac cocktail and an enduring symbol of American drinks culture.
Bottled at 18 years and 5 months and at 90 proof, the 2025 release showcases the mature elegance that has made this rye a cornerstone of the Antique Collection.
The nose opens with bright rye spice supported by seasoned oak and a subtle herbal lift. On the palate, spice and oak settle into a balanced interplay, enriched by woody depth and supple leather. The finish is long and quietly complex, marked by rye spice, warm leather, caraway seed, and enduring oak.
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Named for Thomas H. Handy, the New Orleans entrepreneur who championed rye whiskey in the Sazerac cocktail, this uncut and unfiltered expression remains the most spirited rye in the Antique Collection.
Aged over six years and bottled at 129.8 proof – a lift from last year’s 127.2 – the 2025 Handy delivers its characteristic vibrancy with clarity and force.
Lively oak and spice define the nose, brightened by flashes of fruit and a light apple note. The palate offers bold spice and firm oak, tempered by soft fruit character. Its finish is long, warming, and richly spiced, with oak and vanilla lingering in tandem.
William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon
William Larue Weller honours the distiller who pioneered wheated bourbon, replacing rye with wheat to create a softer, rounder whiskey profile.
This year’s barrels were filled at 114 proof; after 14 years of ageing, the bourbon emerges at a robust 129 proof, uncut and unfiltered.
On the nose, layers of vanilla, maple, and tobacco develop with patient richness. The palate follows with sweet vanilla balanced by toasted oak, while the long finish carries steady oak and vanilla alongside a gentle thread of ripe fruit.
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