Hey there, lads and buds! What's going on? How's everyone doing? Can you believe it's already July? Another month has flown by—time really doesn't slow down these days, does it? But hey, we roll with it.

Today, I'm bringing you another bourbon review! I've been watching Yellowstone a bit too much lately, which got me back into sipping some great bourbons—and honestly, they hit just right in the summer. Funny how I always find myself reaching for bourbon this time of year. It's like a personal pattern: summer means bourbon, autumn and winter bring out the Scotch, and spring? That's Irish whiskey season. Kind of fascinating.

Also, I'm excited to introduce a brand-new feature on the page: the WhiskyJourneyz Seal of Approval! Stay tuned to see what that's all about.

As today is the 4th of July, I wish a very happy celebration to all my readers from the US of A! Happy 4th of July!🇺🇲🦅

Let's jump in and see what the Buffalo Trace has to offer us! 

But before we go any further, please check out my previous reviews.🥃✅

The WhiskyJourneyz Seal of Approval

I've decided to introduce something new to the site—a WhiskyJourneyz Seal of Approval system. Any whisky featured can earn it, but only if it meets certain criteria. I've created a custom scoring formula to determine eligibility. While I won't be revealing the exact formula, I can tell you it evaluates whiskies based on four key aspects:

1. The WhiskyJourneyz rating (out of 10)
2. Price-to-value ratio
3. Average rating on Whiskybase
4. Availability

Whiskies that score 90–100 on this scale (which is incredibly rare) will be awarded the prestigious Editor's Pick badge.

A score of 80–90 will earn the WhiskyJourneyz Seal of Approval—still a tough mark to reach. Whichever whisky gets this award is worthy to stock up on, even at their full asking price. I always keep a bottle of these in my collection or open on my shelves.

Bottles scoring 70–80 are ones I recommend you grab when they're on sale, perfect to stock up on.

Anything below 70 won't receive any badge—but that doesn't mean the whisky is bad. Not at all.

Some whiskies may not be evaluated with this system at all—this is more of a fun and personal way for me to highlight and celebrate the drams I truly believe in. Think of it as: "I'm giving awards to the whiskies I really love."

About the distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, is widely recognized as one of America's most iconic whiskey producers. Although the distillery officially dates its founding to 1869 by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr., distilling at the site traces back to 1775 when Hancock and Willis Lee first settled and began making whiskey along the Kentucky River. Taylor named the site the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery and introduced several innovations, including modern fermentation and warehouse techniques.

In 1878, Taylor sold the distillery to George T. Stagg, who expanded operations and brought significant advancements, such as steam heating in warehouses—a U.S. first in 1886. The distillery not only survived Prohibition by producing medicinal whiskey but also navigated ownership changes and fires, each time emerging stronger.

In the mid-20th century, leadership passed through whiskey legends like Albert Blanton and Elmer T. Lee, both of whom helped establish the distillery's legacy of quality and innovation. The Sazerac Company purchased the site in 1992, renaming it Buffalo Trace in 1999 in homage to the ancient buffalo migration path that crossed the Kentucky River near the distillery grounds. Today, it holds both National Historic Landmark and National Register of Historic Places designations, a testament to its enduring legacy.

Production

Buffalo Trace combines centuries-old tradition with modern production practices. The distillery uses three primary mash bills: a rye bourbon mash bill, a wheated bourbon mash bill, and a rye whiskey mash bill. Corn is always the dominant grain, supported by either rye or wheat, plus a small amount of malted barley.

Mashing is performed in massive cookers, including a 10,100-gallon vessel for large-scale production and smaller ones for limited releases like Blanton's. Fermentation occurs in twelve massive 92,000-gallon fermenters—among the largest in the industry—using a sour mash process, which blends spent mash from previous distillations with new batches.

Distillation takes place in a towering four-story column still, capable of producing 60,000 gallons of high-proof spirit. After distillation, the clear "white dog" spirit is diluted to 125 proof before being barreled. The distillery's warehouses—some traditional, others experimental—play a critical role in shaping flavor by testing the effects of temperature, light, and airflow.

Aging

Barrels at Buffalo Trace age in a variety of warehouse styles, some of which date back over a century. The use of steam-heated rickhouses—first implemented in 1886—allows for controlled aging even during the cold Kentucky winters.

Maturation ranges widely depending on the label. Buffalo Trace Bourbon typically ages around 8 years, while premium releases like Eagle Rare (10 and 17 years), George T. Stagg (15+ years), and Pappy Van Winkle (15 to 23 years) undergo extended maturation. Even their straight rye whiskeys, such as Sazerac Rye, are matured for 6–7 years to develop complex spice profiles.

Core range

The distillery's portfolio is among the most respected and sought-after in the world. The flagship Buffalo Trace Bourbon is known for its balance of sweetness, spice, and oak at 90 proof. Blanton's Single Barrel, the first commercially released single barrel bourbon, showcases hand-selected barrels and intense individual character.

W.L. Weller—one of the pioneers of wheated bourbon—offers several age and proof variants, from the accessible Special Reserve to the coveted 12 Year and Full Proof editions. Eagle Rare is known for its maturity and elegance, while Stagg Jr. delivers bold, barrel-proof intensity.

On the rye side, Sazerac Rye stands out as a spicy, historical throwback to the cocktail roots of New Orleans. The Antique Collection—including Thomas H. Handy, George T. Stagg, and William Larue Weller—features some of the most highly rated and rare releases in the world.

In addition to these icons, Buffalo Trace continues to innovate through experimental bottlings, limited releases like O.F.C. Vintage, and even modern collaborations such as the Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat series.

Buffalo Trace - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 45%

"Heritage in a Bottle. Crafted at one of America's most historic and award-winning distilleries, Buffalo Trace Bourbon is a quintessential Kentucky straight bourbon made from a high-rye mash bill and aged for around 8 years in new, charred oak barrels. Bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), it offers a perfect balance of rich flavor, smoothness, and character."

• Mash Bill: Corn-based with rye as the secondary grain and a small amount of malted barley
• Age: Typically around 8 years
• Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Awards: Multiple-time Gold Medal winner at San Francisco World Spirits Competition and other global contests

Nose: Rich and inviting with a sweet, approachable character. Layers of caramel, vanilla, and honey are joined by notes of fresh orange juice, juicy peaches, and sweet corn. Hints of toasted oak, cherry, maple syrup, and a subtle touch of leather add depth and warmth.

Taste: Exceptionally creamy and smooth. Flavors of butterscotch, brown sugar, and vanilla lead the way, followed by bursts of orange zest, ripe peach, red apple, and gentle cinnamon spice. Sweet corn. Well-balanced, warming without being hot, and effortlessly drinkable.

Finish: Medium in length and gently spiced. Cinnamon and black pepper peek through, but the dominant impression is one of lingering sweetness—vanilla, caramel, and maple syrup wrap it up beautifully. A satisfying, dessert-like finish that invites another sip.

Overall in my opinion, this is a straightforward bourbon done exceptionally well. It's not trying to be flashy or overly complex, yet it offers plenty of depth, sweetness, fruit, and body. The value is just off the charts—this is the kind of bottle you stock up on, no question. It shows enough age and complexity to feel refined, but keeps everything accessible and smooth.

A true daily sipper and an absolute no-brainer for the price. I rate this 8/10. Buy it. Try it. Drink responsibly.

In fact, it's earned the very first WhiskyJourneyz Seal of Approval—and honestly, I couldn't think of a better bottle to start the tradition. I purchased the 1000ml version for 31,33€. Incredible. This whisky scored 85.2 / 100 in my Seal of Approval calculator. Stock up on it if you can! This bottle will always be on my shelves.

Some of the photos featured in this article are not my own; I've credited the original owners. All other images bearing my logo were taken and are owned by me.

Feel free to check out the scores and rankings I've given to each whisky I reviewed.

Thanks for reading—I hope you enjoyed it! Here's to many more drams. Sláinte!

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