Grammy-winning musician Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley have unveiled Traveller Whiskey Full Proof, the first line extension from their collaborative brand. Bottled at 121 proof (60.5% ABV), the new release is a higher-strength evolution of the original Blend No. 40 and is now available nationwide in the U.S.
The new expression follows the brand’s debut in January 2024 and was developed after Stapleton and Wheatley explored pushing the proof of the original 90-proof whiskey without sacrificing its character.
“Prior to collaborating with Harlen Wheatley and Buffalo Trace Distillery on Traveller Whiskey, I generally leaned toward higher-proof and barrel-strength bottles,” Stapleton said.
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READ THE STORYHe continued: “Needless to say, when we decided to experiment with a higher-proof expression, I was excited to see where that could land.”
The final proof was selected during a backstage tasting with Stapleton and his band.
“Everyone agreed 121 was the clear winner,” Stapleton added. “It’s the same easy-to-drink DNA, just turned up a few notches. I think Traveller Whiskey Full Proof is one of those moments where more of a good thing is definitely a good thing.”
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Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery, explained the rationale behind the experiment.
“Across our products, we like to experiment with proof as a way to bring out different flavor characteristics already present in the whiskey,” said Wheatley.
He noted that the blended recipe responded uniquely to the proof variation compared to the distillery’s straight bourbons.
“When we started experimenting with proof in Traveller’s blended recipe, flavors and finishes came to the forefront that aren’t as apparent in the 90 proof blend,” Wheatley commented. “We think where we’ve landed is a completely unique offering that every whiskey drinker should try.”
Since its launch, Traveller has become one of the fastest-growing whiskey brands globally.
The brand has also secured high-profile partnerships, becoming the ‘Official Whiskey of Major League Baseball’ and sponsoring JR Motorsports’s Traveller Whiskey No. 40 Chevrolet in NASCAR.
Official notes from the brand state that the 121-proof release delivers “amplified notes of caramelized sugar, baking spice and toasted oak.”
The palate builds on the original blend with additional flavors of “vanilla, warm toffee, and dark fruit,” resulting in a whiskey with added depth and a longer finish.
Traveller Whiskey Full Proof was initially launched as a limited release earlier this year.
It is now available to retailers, bars, and restaurants across the U.S. through Sazerac’s distribution network.
The whiskey has a suggested retail price of $39.99 per 750ml bottle.
Chris Stapleton is a multi-Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and musician. The collaboration with Buffalo Trace marks his first entry into the spirits industry, joining a growing trend of musicians partnering with established distilleries.
