First Impressions
Buffalo Trace Distillery is arguably Kentucky's most famous — the operation that produces Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton's, and the bourbon bearing its own name. The flagship Buffalo Trace uses mashbill #1: believed to be 75% corn, 10% rye, 15% barley — a low-rye recipe that emphasises sweetness over spice. No age statement, but estimated at 8-10 years.
Tasting
The nose is bright with honey, vanilla, and strawberries and cream. On the palate at 40%, sweet honey and caramel give way to pepper and barrel char, then cherry and oak. The finish lingers like apple pie filling.
The Verdict
Buffalo Trace earns an 8 — the flagship sets the tone for Kentucky's most legendary distillery. Easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing, and consistently excellent. At £25, one of bourbon's greatest values from the distillery that makes Pappy.
