Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon 70cl
Buffalo Trace is batched from no more than forty barrels at a time, all pulled from the middle floors of the distillery's old warehouses — the levels where the Kentucky temperature swings hardest and the whiskey and wood work each other over most aggressively. That deliberate spot-picking is part of why this bourbon punches above its modest price.
It is the flagship of the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, one of the most decorated distilleries in America. The mash is corn-led with rye and malted barley, and by law it ages in new charred oak, which is where nearly all the colour and sweetness comes from. Bottled at 40% ABV.
The nose is sweet and spicy at once — caramel, creamy toffee éclairs, a lick of cinnamon and a whiff of cereal. The palate runs to brown sugar, toffee apple, sweet oak, custard and a surprising note of oily espresso bean, with chocolate-covered raisin underneath. It finishes with sweet spice, cinnamon and more toffee, and holds on longer than the price suggests.
At around £26 this is one of the best-value bourbons on the shelf and a genuine gateway to the category. It is equally at home sipped or thrown into an Old Fashioned. Seriously good bourbon for the money.
How to Serve
Neat or over a single large cube of ice. A few drops of water lift the caramel and spice nicely. It also makes a reliable, well-priced Old Fashioned.
Where to Drink It
The American Bar at The Savoy for a textbook Old Fashioned. Black Rock in Shoreditch for a bourbon-led flight. Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood for a fireside pour.
Food Pairings
A ribeye with plenty of char is the natural move — the sweet oak echoes the crust. Smoked brisket or a wedge of aged cheddar does the job just as well.
