2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Announced
The 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) has been announced and will feature new releases of Eagle Rare 17 Year Old, George T. Stagg, Sazerac 18 Year Old, Thomas H. Handy, and William Larue Weller.
Details on the 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection follow:
Eagle Rare 17 Year Old
The 2023 release of Eagle Rare 17 Year Old is bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV). This bourbon was distilled in the spring of 2004 and the barrels were aged in Warehouses C, I, K, M, and Q. It’s described as having aromas of “dark chocolate and cherry pie filling,” with “a well-balanced flavor of caramel-drizzled chocolate sponge cake” on the palate, finishing with “dry and spicy notes of an earthy cigar box.”
17 years indicates the minimum age for Eagle Rare 17 barrels to be bottled, but the age of actual barrels in the whiskey varies yearly to meet its ideal flavor profile. At 19 years and three months old, the 2023 release of Eagle Rare 17 Year Old marks the oldest release of the spirit since its 23 year inclusion in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
George T. Stagg
The 2023 release of George T. Stagg is bottled at a barrel strength of 135 proof (67.5% ABV). This bourbon was distilled in the spring of 2008 and the barrels were aged in Warehouse C, I, K, L, and M for 15 years and 4 months prior to bottling. It’s described as having notes of “cinnamon and cherry cola” on the nose, “a well-balanced mix of leather, chocolate, and vanilla” on the palate, and “a robust, earthy finish.”
Sazerac 18 Year Old
The 2023 release of Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old is bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV). The barrels for this straight rye whiskey were filled between the fall of 2004 and the spring of 2005 and the barrels were aged in Warehouses K, L, and M. It’s described as having aromas of “dried orange, rye grain, clove, and aniseed,” with “black pepper, vanilla, and waves of oak” on the palate, and “a florally honey and tobacco leaf finish.”
Thomas H. Handy
The 2023 release of Thomas H. Handy is bottled uncut and unfiltered at 124.9 proof (62.45% ABV). This straight rye whiskey is comprised of barrels aged for over six years and is described as having aromas of “orange zest and lemon oil, caramel, and hints of pine,” with “freshly baked rye bread spread with orange marmalade and honey” on the palate, and “a lingering finish of light oak and black licorice.”
William Larue Weller
The 2023 release of William Larue Weller is bottled uncut and unfiltered at 133.6 proof (66.8% ABV). This wheated recipe bourbon was distilled in the spring of 2011 and the barrels were aged in Warehouses C, L, M, and N. It’s described as having “candied notes of dark brown sugar and vanilla bean” on the nose, with “a warm and full palate with stewed cherry and brown sugar crumble,” and “a robust, dense finish enveloped with baking spice and a hint of maple syrup.”
The 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection will be available in limited quantities starting this month at a suggested retail price of $124.99 each.
Source: Buffalo Trace Distillery.