Taste Off! Buffalo Trace Bourbon vs. Buffalo Trace Bourbon

As soon as Prohibition was repealed, the people needed their bourbon.  With their distilleries dormant for more than a decade, American liquor companies like Schenley Distillers often imported Canadian whisky while their own distillation restarted and the spirit aged.  Schenley Distillers set one of their distilleries aside to produce Ancient Age Bourbon.  Of course, Ancient Age wasn't actually any older than other bourbon on the market, but -- in a reborn market full of very young booze -- a little false advertising went a long way.

In 1812, long before it was known as Ancient Age, the distillery had been named OFC (Old Fashioned Copper) Distillery.  Then in 1909 it was named George T. Stagg Distillery after one of its most famous owners.

In 1992, The Sazerac Company purchased the distillery and renamed it Buffalo Trace, "In tribute to the mighty buffalo and the rugged, independent spirit of the pioneers who followed them westward."  The production has expanded greatly, cranking out many orders of well loved brands such as Blanton's, Eagle Rare, Sazerac Rye, Benchmark, Elmer T. Lee, Ancient Age (still beloved by some), the Antique Collection (including amongst others George T. Stagg, Thomas H. Handy Rye, and William Larue Weller), and Van Winkle.  They also have their fascinating Experimental and Single Oak lines.

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But Buffalo Trace distillery also makes.....Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon Whiskey.  Originally launched in limited release in 2001, Buffalo Trace Bourbon has since grown to be one of the company's main products.  It is one of the most reasonably priced whiskies they make and also one of the best.

Hell, I'll say this right now.  This is my favorite bourbon by a long shot.

And it shouldn't be my favorite.  While I love rye whiskey and I tolerate corn whisky, Buffalo Trace Bourbon is made from BT's low rye (8%) high corn (80+%) mash bill.  My only explanation: this is well made stuff.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I need to introduce Hi Time Wine Cellars into the mix.

Started in 1957, Hi Time is a family-run wine, beer, liquor, cigar, gourmet, everything-good shop in Costa Mesa.  The Hanson family has built themselves a great establishment with a respected reputation.  It is one of the largest (if not the largest) single point liquor retailers in the country and you will experience the grandeur once you walk the aisles   They have a great helpful staff there (especially Forrest or Trayce), if you ever have any questions or if you're totally overwhelmed by the selection.

A short time ago, the Hi Time staff selected a single barrel (number 56) of Buffalo Trace Bourbon.  The bottlings were sold exclusive through Hi Time at the awesome price of $19.99.  And now they're totally sold out.  Good news though, they're planning on doing another one with BT.

What I have on hand is the official Buffalo Trace Bourbon and the Hi Time Single Barrel Buffalo Trace Bourbon.  It's about time for a Taste Off.

FIRSTLY, THE HI TIME SINGLE BARREL

Did I say "have on hand"? I meant "had on hand".

Distillery: Buffalo Trace

Ownership: The Sazerac Company
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Region: Frankfort, Kentucky

Age: minimum 2 years (other than that I don't know...)
Mashbill: BT low-rye: somewhere around 80% corn, 12% malted barley, 8% rye (this is estimated!)

Maturation: charred white oak barrels

Alcohol by Volume: 45%
Barrel Number: 56

The color is a dark copper, like an old penny that hasn't been scuffed.  The nose is full of sugary candy, bubblegum, and honey.  There's some cinnamon and black pepper from the rye.  A bit of notebook paper.  The smoky charred oak vanillins get bigger with time in the glass.  The palate has a strong note of old school Robotussin (think black cherry + anise + ???).  Folded in with a spoonful of honey is vanilla extract and corn syrup.  Yet, it's not cloyingly sweet.  The finish is a stinger.  Dr. Brown's black cherry soda, brown sugar and Karo corn syrup.  It gets sweeter with time in the glass but it stays hot and strong.  Like a certain blogger.

Damn fine.  Damn fine.  After several tries in bars, Buffalo Trace became my first ever 750mL bourbon purchase.  The fact that it was this single barrel was just a bonus.

NEXT, THE OFFICIAL BOTTLE

Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Ownership: The Sazerac Company
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Region: Frankfort, Kentucky

Age: minimum 2 years (other than that I don't know...)
Mashbill: BT low-rye: somewhere around 80% corn, 12% malted barley, 8% rye (this is estimated!)

Maturation: charred white oak barrels

Alcohol by Volume: 45%

It has the same dark copper color as the single barrel.  There's a great nose at hand.  Black cherry syrup, confectioner's sugar, tropical fruit, corn bread, corn syrup, and bubblegum (think Big League Chew).  With some time there's clementines, molasses, and some leather.  The honeyed palate is softer and drier than the single barrel, but it's also very moreish.  Floral chewing gum, vanilla, simple syrup, and a solid hit of rye.  The black cherry from the nose comes back in the finish followed by some sticky mesquite honey.  It's a sweet conclusion, but more of buzz than a sting.

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So, which was better?  Well, it depends on what one values most.  Their palates were mostly equal.  The official bottle had a deeper, more varied nose, while the Hi Time bottle had the bigger bolder finish.  For me, between these two, there isn't a clear cut winner.  Instead, we're all winners to have this opportunity to get excellent whiskey for $20.

Each element works so well.  Despite the low content, the rye is definitely in there, like a seasoning or bitters in a cocktail.  Meanwhile the corn whisky creates a honey-like blanket over the whole thing.  Really, I'm just plum stumped.  Never a corn fan, I may have to reconsider some of the low-rye bourbons out there.

In the meantime, THIS is my house bourbon.  I've got a bottle in case you're stopping by.

Availability - Many liquor purveyors
Pricing - $20-$25, a crazy value!
Rating - 89