Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace is the flagship bourbon from the distillery of the same name in Frankfort, Kentucky, one of the oldest continuously operating distilleries in America. It's a low-rye mash bill, which lets the corn sweetness lead, and it's become a benchmark for what good, honest Kentucky bourbon should taste like at a sensible price.
The nose is classic and welcoming: vanilla, caramel and a clear note of sweet corn, with a little brown sugar and oak sitting behind. There's a whisper of mint and toffee if you go looking, but nothing showy.
On the palate it's smooth and rounded, leaning sweet without tipping over. Vanilla cream and caramel come first, then a gentle wave of baking spice, a touch of dark cherry and the dry grip of charred oak to keep it honest. The body is medium and easy, the kind of bourbon that doesn't fight you. The finish is moderate, warming, trailing off through oak and soft spice.
What makes Buffalo Trace special is its sheer reliability. It works neat, it works on ice, and it makes a faultless cocktail. Few bottles give you this much for so little fuss.
How to Serve
Lovely neat or over a single large rock. It's also the bourbon I'd reach for in an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan, where it carries the drink without stealing the show.
Where to Drink It
Try Swift, Black Rock in Shoreditch, or the American Bar at The Savoy for a properly made bourbon serve.
Food Pairings
Good with barbecue, roast pork, or a slab of cornbread. The corn sweetness also flatters salted caramel and vanilla-based puddings.
