Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases 2016 Antique Collection – 90 to 144 Proof

September is famous for two things, Bourbon Heritage Month and the annual Buffalo Trace Distillery release of their annual Antique Collection. The highly anticipated collection will once again feature five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs.

The Antique Collection was introduced more than a decade ago and has become a cult favorite among whiskey connoisseurs. Since 2000 these whiskeys have garnered numerous awards from across the industry. And, as usual, each will be in short supply!

Here’s the complete 2016 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection lineup.

Stay Informed: Sign up here for the Distillery Trail free email newsletter and be the first to get all the latest news, trends, job listings and events in your inbox.

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

---

The fan favorite of the Antique Collection, uncut and unfiltered George T. Stagg bourbon weighs in at a hefty 144.1 proof this year. This year’s release contains bourbon from barrels filled in the spring of 2001. The bourbon was aged 15 years and 4 months at bottling. This batch contained 142 barrels, but not as many bottles as expected, due to some very greedy angels.  Storage location of these barrels varied across warehouses M, N, H, L and K. Finding a bottle this fall will be difficult due to the low yield. This whiskey tastes of dark chocolate, coffee and vanilla.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: 2001
Proof for release: 144.1 proof

Recipe

Large Grain: Kentucky Corn, Distillers Grade #1 and #2
Small Grain: Minnesota Rye
Finish Grain: North Dakota Malted Barley

Cooking / Fermentation

Milling Screen: #10
Cook Temperature: 240 Degrees Fahrenheit
Water: Kentucky Limestone with Reverse Osmosis
Fermentation: Carbon Steel / Black Iron Fermenter
Mash: Sour

Distillation and Aging

Distillation: Double stilled; beer still and doubler
Proof off still: 135 proof
Barrel: New, White Oak, #4 Char; Charred for 55 seconds
Barrel Maker: Independent Stave
Barrel Entry Proof: 125 proof
Barrel Size: 53 liquid gallons
Warehouse: M, N, H, L & K
Floor: 1, 2 & 3
Evaporation Loss: 75.99% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 142 hand selected barrels
Filtration: None
Product Age: 15 years and 4 month at bottling
Tasting Notes: Dark Chocolate, Coffee and Vanilla

William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

---

The Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon is William Larue Weller. The 2016 offering was distilled in the spring of 2003. The bourbon was aged 12 years and 7 months at bottling and aged on the third and sixth floors of Warehouses D, K, and L.  This bourbon registers in at 135.4 proof – one of the stronger Weller releases. The bold flavors include plum, figs and vanilla.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 2003
Proof for release: 135.4 Proof

Recipe

Large Grain: Kentucky Corn, Distillers Grade #1 and #2
Small Grain: North Dakota Wheat
Finish Grain: North Dakota Malted Barley

Cooking / Fermentation

Milling Screen: #10
Cook Temperature: 240 Degrees Fahrenheit
Water: Kentucky Limestone with Reverse Osmosis
Fermentation: Carbon Steel / Black Iron Fermenter
Mash: Sour

Distillation and Aging

Distillation: Double stilled; beer still and doubler
Proof off still: 130 proof
Barrel: New, White Oak, #4 Char; Charred for 55 seconds
Barrel Maker: Independent Stave
Barrel Entry Proof: 114 proof
Barrel Size: 53 liquid gallons
Warehouse: D, K and L
Floors: 3 and 6
Evaporation Loss: 65.4% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 145 hand selected barrels
Filtration: None
Product Age: 12 years and 7 month at bottling
Tasting Notes: Plum, Figs and Vanilla

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey

---

Thomas H. Handy is the uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2010. The bourbon was aged 6 years and 3 months at bottling and aged on the fourth, fifth and seventh floors of Warehouses I, K, and M, and weighs in at 126.2 proof.  The flavor has been described as toffee and cinnamon.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 2010
Proof for Release: 126.2 proof

Recipe

Large Grain: Minnesota Rye
Small Grain: Kentucky Corn, Distillers Grade #1 and #2
Finish Grain: North Dakota Malted Barley

Cooking/Fermentation

Milling Screen: #10
Cook Temperature: 240 Degrees F
Water: Kentucky Limestone with Reverse Osmosis
Fermentation: Carbon Steel / Black Iron Fermenter
Mash: Sour

Distillation and Aging

Distillation: Double stilled; beer still and doubler
Proof off still: 135 proof
Barrel: New, White Oak, #4 Char; Charred for 55 seconds
Barrel Maker: Independent Stave
Barrel Entry Proof: 125 proof
Barrel Size: 53 liquid gallons
Warehouse: I, K and M
Floor: 4, 5 and 7
Evaporation Loss: 26.8% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 61 hand-picked barrels
Filtration: None
Product Age: 6 years and 3 months old at bottling
Tasting Notes: Toffee and Cinnamon

Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 17 Year Old

---

The 2016 Eagle Rare edition has been aging on the first, second and third floors of Warehouses H and K.  This 90 proof bourbon was aged for seventeen years and tastes of leather, vanilla, tobacco and toffee.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 1999
Proof for Release: 90 proof

Recipe

Large Grain: Kentucky Corn, Distillers Grade #1 and #2
Small Grain: Minnesota Rye
Finish Grain: North Dakota Distillers Malted Barley

Cooking/Fermentation

Milling Screen: #10
Cook Temperature: 240 Degrees Fahrenheit
Water: Kentucky Limestone with Reverse Osmosis
Fermentation: Carbon Steel / Black Iron Fermenter
Mash: Sour

Distillation and Aging

Distillation: Double stilled; beer still and doubler
Proof off still: 135 proof
Barrel: New, White Oak, #4 Char; Charred for 55 seconds
Barrel Maker: Independent Stave
Barrel Entry Proof: 125 proof
Barrel Size: 53 liquid gallons
Warehouse: H and K
Floor: 1, 2 and 3
Evaporation Loss: 66.1% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 32 hand-picked barrels
Filtration: Chill
Product Age: 17 years old at bottling
Tasting Notes: Leather, Vanilla, Tobacco and Toffee 

Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey – 18 Year Old

---

This 2016 straight rye whiskey release has notable flavors of smoke, clove and all-spice with a dry finish.  The barrels for this whiskey were filled in April of 1998, making them the first “new” batch in years not drawn from the stainless steel tank as the previous past few editions have been.  From this year onward, this whiskey will be drawn directly from barrels put away for 18 years, versus using any tanked whiskey.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 1998
Proof for Release: 90 proof

Recipe

Large Grain: Minnesota Rye
Small Grain: Kentucky Corn, Distillers Grade #1 and #2
Finish Grain: North Dakota Malted Barley

Cooking/Fermentation

Milling Screen: #10
Cook Temperature: 240 Degrees Fahrenheit
Water: Kentucky Limestone with Reverse Osmosis
Fermentation: Carbon Steel / Black Iron Fermenter
Mash: Sour

Distillation and Aging

Distillation: Double stilled; beer still and doubler
Proof off still: 135 proof
Barrel: New, White Oak, #4 Char; Charred for 55 seconds
Barrel Maker: Independent Stave
Barrel Entry Proof: 125 proof
Barrel Size: 53 liquid gallons
Warehouse: K
Floor: 2
Evaporation Loss: 72.1% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 24 handpicked barrels
Filtration: Chill
Product Age: 18 years old at bottling
Tasting Notes: Smoke, Clove and All-Spice. Dry finish.

The 2016 Antique Collection whiskeys will be available in limited quantities starting in late September or early October.  Suggested retail price is $90 each.

A special note to craft distillers: Keeping notes is critical to your long term success. Invest in quality software to keep proper records. You may remember what you did last week or even last year but these notes go back 18+ years. (Or, if you are like most people, you may not remember what you had for breakfast!) Check our Supplier Directory for a technology software solution to help you keep records!

Please help to support Distillery Trail. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.