Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) Bourbon Flight

In this flight, I compared the three bourbons released annually by Buffalo Trace as part of their esteemed Antique Collection. Outside of the Van Winkle line, and a few special releases, these are the oldest and some of the highest proof bourbons produced by Buffalo Trace. They generally come from special barrels that are chosen for extra aging or extra proofing, based on their exceptional qualities. Because I love even numbers, I added a fourth Buffalo Trace bourbon to the flight. Even though it was only released twice, I suggest that Buffalo Trace make it an annual release and include it in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. You can read and watch my individual reviews of each of these bourbons. Here, they are compared side by side.

THE RESULTS:

1. William LaRue Weller

2. Eagle Rare 17 Years Old

3. George T. Stagg

4. Col. E. H. Taylor Four Grain Bottled In Bond

When you see my reviews, you will quickly realize that I like three things. Wheated bourbons, high proof bourbons and highly aged bourbons. I believe wheated bourbons are softer and sweeter. They can handle the heat and the age better than ryed bourbons. Sure, some bourbons can be too hot and over aged, but none of these bourbons are. That's why they are some of the best bourbons in the world. They can compete against the venerable Van Winkle bourbons. I had no doubt coming into this flight that Weller won win. It's one of my favorite bourbons of all time. It's only 12 years old, but it's bottled at 134.5 proof. Amazingly, it doesn't drink that hot. I can only imagine how good it would be at 15 to 18 years. When I did the individual reviews, proof won out over age. When I did the head to head flight, I had a different experience. Age won out over proof. I thought the blackberry fruitiness of the Eagle Rare defeated the spicy heat of the Stagg. The four grain Taylor had a nice balance of flavors, but it was just a little too thin. Honestly, my tolerance for oak and fire may be greater than most, but give me a highly aged, high proof wheated bourbon, and I'll be delighted.