Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases 2017 Antique Collection – 90 to 129.2 Proof

Buffalo Trace Distillery - 2017 Antique Collection

September is famous for two things, Bourbon Heritage Month and the 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.

Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley notes, “The team had another great year with the Antique Collection. From distillation, to barrel selection, to bottling, this year’s collection showed very well. I was particularly excited about the William Larue Weller with its extra richness, and the Eagle Rare 17 seemed more rounded and full of flavor. None of these disappointed.”

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 although a few have more bottles allocated in 2017 vs. 2016!

Here’s the complete 2017 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection lineup.

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George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

George T. Stagg - Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

The powerhouse favorite of the Antique Collection, George T. Stagg weighs in at 129.2 proof this year. This year’s release contains bourbon from barrels filled in the spring of 2002. This batch contained 309 barrels, a few more than last year. Storage location of these barrels varied across warehouses C, K, M and Q. This whiskey tastes of expresso, chocolate fudge and tobacco.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: 2002
Release: Fall of 2017
Proof for release: 129.2 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 (66.25 original proof gallons)
Warehouse: C, K, M & Q
Floor: 1, 2, 3 and 6
Evaporation Loss: 54.03% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 309 hand selected barrels
Filtration: None
Product Age: 15 years and 3 months at bottling
Tasting Notes: Expresso, Chocolate Fudge and Tobacco

William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

William Larue Weller - Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

The Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon is William Larue Weller. The 2017 offering was distilled in the winter of 2005 and aged in Warehouses D, I, and P. This bourbon registers in at 128.2 proof. The bold flavors include toffee, marshmallow and leather.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Winter of 2005
Release: Fall of 2017
Proof for release: 128.2 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 (66.25 original proof gallons)
Warehouse: D, I and P
Floors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Evaporation Loss: 54.08% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 155 hand selected barrels
Filtration: None
Product Age: 12 years and 6 month at bottling
Tasting Notes: Toffee, marshmallow, and leather

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac - Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

Thomas H. Handy is the uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2011; aged on the third, fourth and fifth floors of Warehouses K, L, and Q, and weighs in at 127.2 proof. The flavor is described as fig, allspice and cinnamon.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 2011
Release: Fall of 2017
Proof for Release: 127.2 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 (66.25 original proof gallons)
Warehouse: K, L and Q
Floor: 3, 4 and 5
Evaporation Loss: 27.2% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 72 hand-picked barrels
Filtration: None
Product Age: 6 years and 5 months old at bottling
Tasting Notes: Fig, Allspice and Cinnamon

Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 17 Year Old

Eagle Rare 17 Year-Old - Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

The 2017 edition has been aging on the first, second and third floors of Warehouses C, K and P. This 90 proof bourbon was aged for seventeen years and tastes of oak, tobacco, toffee and vanilla.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 2000
Release: Fall of 2017
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 (66.25 original proof gallons)
Warehouse: C, K and P
Floor: 1, 2 and 3
Evaporation Loss: 89.5% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 36 hand-picked barrels
Filtration: Chill
Product Age: 17 years and 3 months old at bottling
Tasting Notes: Oak, Tobacco, Toffee and Vanilla

Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey – 18 Year Old

Sazerac Rye 18 Year-Old - Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

This 2017 straight rye whiskey release has notable flavors of leather, clove and all-spice. The barrels for this whiskey were filled in the spring of 1998, and then put into a stainless steel tank in 2016 to stop further aging and evaporation.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 1998
Release: Fall of 2017
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 (66.25 original proof gallons)
Warehouse: K
Floor: 2
Evaporation Loss: 72.7% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Barrel Selection: 25 handpicked barrels
Filtration: Chill
Product Age: 18 years old at bottling
Tasting Notes: Leather, Clove and All-Spice.

The 2017 Antique Collection whiskeys will be available in limited quantities starting in October. Suggested retail price is $90 per bottle.