Interview With Kris Comstock of Buffalo Trace
In case, you missed the last few Bourbonr posts the 2015 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection has been announced and started to release (track the BTAC release here). I was able to talk with Buffalo Trace Brand Manager, Kris Comstock, about this years release as well as some other BT questions that have been burning in my mind.
2015 BT Antique Collection Cheat Sheet
Kris Comstock Interview
Was Everyone shocked by the Stagg yield?
-We were shocked. There were roughly the same barrels as usual. Every year we sample to pick based on taste. Did all the tastings to select the barrels and then when we rolled the barrels out and they felt really light. In the end, we picked the barrels that made the best batch of Stagg and it just happened to be barrels with a significant amount of loss. It was probably due to some leaky barrels beyond just the typical evaporation based on the looks of some barrels. We could have considers some other barrels we initially didn’t select to increase the batch size, but we didn’t want to compromise taste.
What does the tasting process look like for the Antique Collection barrels?
– There’s over a dozen people on the tasting panel. We taste the barrels that are available and narrow that down to the best of the lot. Next, we marry those barrels to taste the composite. Many times the sum is greater than the parts.
Is the William LaRue Weller increase due to the partnership with the Van Winkles in 2002?
– No. The 2 brands are separate. There’s a plan for each brand. Not borrowing from one to produce the other. Volume for each brand is planned from the outset from distillation to aging location. Ultimately it comes down to taste, but the plan is have more in the future.
What’s the standout to you this year?
– Always a huge Stagg fan. I thought the William LaRue Weller was excellent this year. If you ever want a high octane old fashioned try using Thomas H Handy.
Will next years Saz be a different mash bill? Same as baby Saz/THH or EH Taylor Rye
– It’s always been the Sazerac Rye mash bill and will continue to be the same mash bill. It will be important job for the tasting panel to select barrels that the same profile.
What are some BT brands you think are overlooked?
– Almost all of our brands are pretty limited now so Pappy and the Antique Collection are pretty much the rarest of the rare these days. Stagg Jr. is a great one. It comes out a few times a year and while it’s not a replacement it does have a big rich flavor. Weller 12 by the numbers is a great alternative to the Van Winkles but has started to become a white whale of its own. Personally, I like the E.H, Taylor bottles. If you see a bottle of Elmer T Lee on the shelves make sure to grab it.
Any info on EH Taylor Seasoned Wood?
– There’s a chance but just because there’s label approval doesn’t mean we will go through with the brand. I will say, if there were some Season Wood Bourbon aging at Buffalo Trace… it wouldn’t be ready yet 🙂
Rumor: Was there ever any mash bill #2 in Pappy 15?
– False.
Who will win the Florida-Kentucky football game this weekend (Kris played football for the University of Kentucky but played his High School ball in Florida)?
– Kentucky, no doubt.
22 comments
SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON’T LISTEN TO HIM!!! STAGG JR. SUCKS!! ELMER T.LEE SUCKS!! ALL E.H.TAYLOR SUCKS!!! IN FACT EVERYTHING — EVERYTHING — ESPECIALLY THE BTAC & VAN WINKLE – THAT BUFFALO TRACE MAKES SUCKS!!! Drink more Jim Beam White & Maker’s Mark!!! That’s the good stuff!! Around all year round!! Plenty of it!! Can’t beat the price!!
Tee — Hee — Hee…
I agree with Lu, the BTACs and PVW in particular are complete garbage as should be avoided. I also heard a rumor that they decrease penis size and in women cause wrinkles.
Dude, if you think Jim and Makers are better than everything released from BT, you’re an idiot. Please keep buying the mass market cheap bourbon. The ad guys really have your number, or you just have no palate.
*(RJB)* Ugh… Sarcasm… look into it.
I see where he is coming from, and it has gotten ridiculous. But he has a point. I can go grab makers mark, makers mark cast strength, bookers, etc every day, all day for a decent price. Makers is one of the best brands in the business and their product is top notch. I would also add four roses to this list. I would say Buffalo Trace has gotten everyone “mesmerized” by THEIR ads and marketing.
Lu Cifer, have some respect for those of us that really want to know what Mr. Comstock has to say about his products.
BOOOOOO HOOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!! WAAAAAAAAA! I have a lot of respect for both Chris & Blake. I love ALL of BT products & I really dig this blog (Good Job Blake — You check out the blog I’m going to star — call it bourbonQ — that one right before yours! ;). )
I meant you SHOULD check out the blog I’m going to START. — Got ahead of myself!
Preach it, Brother! Praying that the hordes accept the word, and leave all that awful Pappy and BTAC garbage for those of us with less discerning palates. 🙂
Yeah Bub! See you get it!
Thanks for another insightful interview Blake and for answering questions we all would like the answer to. Keep up the good work!
Interesting, thanks for the update Blake. So based on the estimated bottle totals things are down only slightly this year (31,063 vs. 31,562 in 2014). Things would have looked much better if not for the massive evaporation in this year’s GTS.
Maybe ask BT if the new Sazerac 18 will continue to be released at 90 proof or will it be a barrel proofer like the rest of the BTAC lineup. A 18 year old THH would be f-ing awesome IMO.
It will remain 90 proof
Agree. Regular Saz Rye to me is VERY bland. I would take a Willett rye over it everyday of the week. The Handy does improve on it a lot.
Unfortunately you can add the ages of the George T. Stagg (15) and William Larue Weller (12) together and they are still a year younger (27) than the last time UK beat Florida (28). Let’s hope that finally comes to an end this year! Go CATS!
There is a vicious rumor around Frankfort that some of the GTS loss is attributable to a human thief. Any truth?
I heard that Too. Little bird also told me BT is holding back a few honey barrels and will bottle what is left in each barrel as a super premium limited edition one time offering. Will be the E.H.Taylor label and named: Warehouse C Thief Surviving. Each bottle will be housed in a canister complete with its own unique 1920s era padlock cap to protect the contents from thieves. Don’t expext to see too many bottles tho, sources tell me less than 1K bottles being produced and allocation is very limited. Secondary market prices for this release will likely be in the 1000s if you can even find one. Looks like another unicorn folks…happy hunting!
LOL! Ingenious!!!. ..funny as fuck and VERY plausible! You know “the game” well!
The likely culprit is a ‘phisticated crime organization known in these parts as the Sour Mash Mafia which has close ties to the brainchild of the great Pappy heist.
“….go git dem barrels”!!!