Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Limited Supply 2019 Bourbon & Rye Antique Collection

Buffalo Trace Distillery - 2019 Antique Collection

It may be called the Antique Collection but the annual bourbon release from Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky never gets old with fans. In fact, if anything the lore around the release tends to create new fans every year and this year will be no exception.

The much anticipated collection will once again feature five limited-release whiskeys including George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.

And now without further ado, let’s jump right in to the 2019 Antique Collection.

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – The Lowest Proof in its History

Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2019 - George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The proverbial powerhouse favorite of the Antique Collection, George T. Stagg, comes in at a lower 116.9 proof this year. This is the lowest proof in this whiskey’s history. Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley cites barrels located on the lower warehouse floors as the reason. “Many of the barrels for this year’s Stagg composite were taken from the first floor of the warehouse. The first floor is cooler with higher humidity levels, therefore the alcohol evaporates faster than the water.” The taste, however, is still what Stagg fans can expect, vanilla and toasted oak with a floral undertone, followed by a long finish of cherries, coffee and black pepper.

This year’s release contains bourbon from barrels filled in the spring of 2004. Storage location of these barrels varied across warehouses C, H, I, K, and Q. The evaporation loss for this year’s batch was 56%, a bit higher than last year’s release.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring of 2004
Release: Fall of 2019
Proof for release: 116.9 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, H, K, Q and I
Floor: 1, 2, 3 and 4
Evaporation Loss: 56.0% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Filtration: None
Product Age: 15 years and 3 months at bottling
Tasting Notes: Nose: Caramel, cherries, with hint of mint. Palate: Vanilla and toasted oak with floral undertone. Finish: Long finish of cherries, coffee and black pepper.

William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon is William Larue Weller. The 2019 offering was distilled in the winter of 2007 and aged in Warehouse I. This bourbon registers in at 128 proof. The bold flavors include toasted vanilla and coffee.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Winter of 2007
Release: Fall of 2019
Proof for release: 128.0 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: I
Floors: 2 and 3
Evaporation Loss: 57.08% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Filtration: None
Product Age: 12 years and 6 month at bottling
Tasting Notes: Nose: Vanilla, caramel and pecans. Palate: Toasted vanilla and coffee. Finish: Long finish of oak, cherries and dark chocolate.

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Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey

Thomas H. Handy is the uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. Last year’s release earned a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2013; aged in warehouses K, M, and N, and weighs in at 125.7 proof. The flavor profile includes creamy butterscotch and vanilla.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 2013
Release: Fall of 2019
Proof for Release: 125.7 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: N, M, and K
Floor: 3, 4 and 5
Evaporation Loss: 26.0% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Filtration: None
Product Age: 6 years and 2 months old at bottling
Tasting Notes: Nose: Crème Brule, spearmint, with a hint of floral notes. Palate: Creamy butterscotch and vanilla. Finish: Long finish of baking spices, chocolate and a hint of cedar.

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Last year’s release went back to Eagle Rare’s 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. The proof remains at 101 this year and will continue forward. The 2018 edition was awarded 92 points at the Ultimate Spirits Competition. This year’s release was distilled in the Spring of 2002 and has been spending its time aging on the first floor of Warehouse P. This bourbon tastes of cocoa, caramel, and oak.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 2002
Release: Fall of 2019
Proof for Release: 101 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: P
Floor: 1
Evaporation Loss: 66.0% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Filtration: Chill
Product Age: 17 years and 3 months old at bottling
Tasting Notes: Nose: Cooked cherries, oak and maple syrup. Palate: Cocoa, caramel and oak. Finish: Long finish of cinnamon, tobacco leafe and spearmint.

Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2019 - Sazerac Rye 18 Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

The previous edition of Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old was named “Best Rye Whiskey Aged 11 Years and Over” by “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” This 2019 straight rye whiskey release has notable flavors of vanilla and maple syrup, with a finish of black pepper and spearmint. The barrels for this whiskey were filled in the spring of 2001 and it rested on the second floor of Warehouses K and L.

Age Profile

Year of Distillation: Spring 2001
Release: Fall of 2019
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: L and K
Floor: 2
Evaporation Loss: 83.5% of the original whiskey lost to the Angel’s

Bottling

Filtration: Chill
Product Age: 18 years and 4 months old at bottling
Tasting Notes: Nose: Floral notes with cherries. Palate: Vanilla and maple syrup, fading to dark berries. Finish: Long finish of oak, black pepper, and spearmint.

The Buffalo Trace Distillery Antique Collection was introduced more than a decade ago and has continued to grow in popularity over the years. The 2019 Antique Collection whiskeys will be available in limited quantities (shocker) starting late September or early October. Each of the whiskies in the Antique Collection have a suggested retail price is $99 per bottle. Start your planning now.

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