Welcome back to another year of Antique Collection reviews. With last year’s reviews, I climbed atop my soap box to talk about the discrepancies between LE review and everyday bourbon reviews. I plan on keeping this review focused on the whiskey (but I still think limited edition reviews are an issue). I look forward to reviewing the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection more than any other limited edition whiskey. This year’s release had its quirks but let’s dive in. read more

BATC Release Map

Please Read: Each state is highlighted when one bottle is reported in that state. There’s a good chance that means that store, and a lot of times that city, is already sold out. This map isn’t an official release tracker from Buffalo Trace but a network of bourbon drinkers looking to help each other. Stores are dealing with smaller allocations and greatly increased demand. Please be understanding of this fact. Happy Hunting! read more

Today, we have a guest post from bourbon Author Fred Minnick. Fred is one of my favorite bourbon authors and I think you’ll enjoy this post. You can check out more of his work on his site FredMinnick.com. He also just released a new book Bourbon: The Rise, Fall & Rebirth of An American Whiskey. I’ve read it and it’s a must read for all Bourbonr’s interested in the history of the spirit. I’ll be posting my book review a little later this month as well. read more

If you weren’t feeling the buzz of fall bourbon already you will be now! Buffalo Trace released the fact sheet for their Antique Collection. The bold is from me to highlight the important parts.

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Sept. 7, 2016) It’s the best time of the year for whiskey fans, as Buffalo Trace Distillery releases its 2016 Antique Collection. The highly anticipated collection will once again feature five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs. Here’s what ardent fans can expect: read more

Buffalo Trace (Sazerac) continues their quest of brand redesign. Today, BT received approval for a redesigned Weller 12, Old Weller Antique and Weller Special Reserve. While the Weller brands received a huge surge in popularity over the last three years the labels remained the same. I’m sure they’ll continue to be the same great (impossible to find) bourbons. read more

Fall bourbon is here! This week a couple bottles of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon popped up in the Bourbonr Facebook group.

Every fall Buffalo Trace Distillery release their Antique Collection (BTAC). The antique collection includes some of the best bourbons and ryes released each year. The Antique Collection won 150+ awards from every major whiskey competition in the world. They’ve won everything from “Whisky of the Year” in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible to Double Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (but you already know how I feel about whiskey competitions). Aside from that, George T. Stagg holds one of the highest honors bestowed upon a bourbon. It’s my favorite bourbon. read more

Baker’s Bourbon is a part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection. Introduced in the early 90’s, the small batch collection consists of four bourbons. (Basil Hayden, Knob Creek, Baker’s and Booker’s). Baker’s is 107 proof and at seven years old is one of the few remaining age stated bourbons. Most Bourbonr’s know the man behind Booker’s. He is former Master Distiller Booker Noe. Baker’s is named after Baker Beam. Baker was the Distiller at Beam’s Clearmont plant while Booker was the Master Distiller. They’re also cousins. read more

Virginia Black is an American whiskey brand backed by rapper Drake. The brand is a collaboration between Drake and DeLeón Tequila founder Brent Hocking. I know what you’re thinking “what’s a rapper doing in the whiskey business?!” While vodka seems to attract many high profile endorsements, whiskey has been somewhat immune. Sure, there’s the occasional celebrity in a commercial. Whiskey sticks with a different blueprint. Whether you’re a Drake fan or not we’re here to talk about the whiskey. read more

For those unfamiliar with the private barrel process here’s how it works. Store’s (along with a brand rep or distributor) set up a tasting at their selected distillery. At this tasting, they bring out several barrels and the tasting begins. This usually involves good bourbon debates but ultimately a winning barrel is chosen. After selecting the barrel the distillery bottles the bourbon. Buffalo Trace adds a medallion with the store logo and ships the bottles to the distributor. That’s the quick and dirty version of how it works. read more

Dixon Dedman, along with his partners Mark and Sherri Carter, built one of the more interesting bourbon brands on the market today. Sure there will be naysayers. There will be people that don’t believe the story. Or, those that think Kentucky Owl is just another Non-Distiller Producer (NDP) cashing in on the bourbon boom. read more