One of the best parts about Bourbon Heritage Month is the release of many annual bourbon releases. This year is no exception, Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky introduced the Antique Collection more than a decade ago and it has become a cult favorite ever since. The distillery has just announced this year’s collection of bourbon and rye whiskeys will once again feature five limited-releases of various ages, recipes and proofs, with one notable change, Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon will now be 101 proof.
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George T. Stagg
The favorite of the Antique Collection, George T. Stagg weighs in at 124.9 proof this year. This year’s release contains bourbon from barrels filled in the spring of 2003. This batch contained 284 barrels, not quite as much as last year’s yield, but still significantly more than the yield from previous years. Storage location of these barrels varied across warehouses C, H, I, K, P, and Q. This whiskey tastes of dark chocolate, espresso, and tobacco.
William Larue Weller
The Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon is William Larue Weller. The 2018 offering was distilled in the winter of 2006 and aged in Warehouses C, I, K, L, M, and Q. This bourbon registers in at 125.7 proof. The bold flavors include dried fruit, fig, and caramelized vanilla.
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye
Thomas H. Handy is the uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2012; aged in warehouses I and L and weighs in at 128.8 proof. The flavor profile includes hints of allspice, teaberry, and clove.
Eagle Rare 17 Year Old
This year’s release is going back to its roots with a proof change from the previous 90 proof back to 101 proof, in tribute to the original strength used when the brand was launched in 1974. This will be a permanent change to the proof for the Eagle Rare 17 year old from this year forward. The 2018 edition was distilled in the Spring of 2000 and has been spending its time aging on the first, second and fifth floors of Warehouse C. This bourbon tastes of toasted oak, coffee, spearmint, and butterscotch.
Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old
This 2018 straight rye whiskey release has notable flavors of dark chocolate, tobacco, and cinnamon. The barrels for this whiskey were filled in the spring of 1998.
The Buffalo Trace Distillery 2018 Antique Collection whiskeys will be available in limited quantities starting in late September or early October. Suggested retail price is $99 each.
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2018 Buffalo Trace Distillery Antique Collection
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