The Most Wished For Whiskeys Last Week

This single-barrel expression is named in honor of Elmer T. Lee, former Master Distiller of Buffalo Trace Distillery who was their Ambassador for years after his retirement in 1985. Just before his retirement, he introduced the world to single barrel bourbon with the release of Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon named in honor of the gentleman who hired him back in 1949.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon is one of the flagship products of the Buffalo Trace collection of whiskeys. It is made from 10 year old bourbon aged at the Kentucky distillery. The barrels are hand selected for quality and consistency before bottling.

Though not officially (read, legally) established until 1816, there are records that date distillation here going back to 1742. Malted barley produced just a hop, skip, and a jump away at neighboring Port Ellen is utilized. Everything is long at this distillery: fermentation, distillation, and maturation. Good things do indeed come to those that wait. Bottled at 43% ABV after 16 years in oak barrels.

Elijah Craig’s claim to fame was discovering the benefits of ageing bourbon in charred oak barrels. When Heaven Hill originally released this whiskey in the mid 1990’s, it was touted as the oldest single barrel bourbon in the world. It’s cult status and shortage prior to the 2015 release has tripled this bourbon’s retail price.

Redbreast is made in the classic Irish Single Pot Still style. This means it is produced using a mash bill consisting of both malted and unmalted barley which is triple distilled in copper pot stills. The 12 year is aged in ex-bourbon and European oak ex-oloroso sherry.

The first mass-produced single-barrel bourbon, bottled by Master Distiller Elmer T Lee in 1984, gets its name from Colonel Albert Blanton. Colonel Blanton spent more than 55 years producing, studying and upholding whiskey traditions; holding almost every job imaginable at what is now the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Insider's note: Save the stoppers. They spell out Blanton's and depict eight different moments from the beginning to end of a horse race.

George T. Stagg Bourbon (Fall 2019) is an uncut, unfiltered Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and is one of the five bottlings in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection released each fall. Due to many of the barrels having matured on the lower levels of the warehouses, this year's edition is the lowest proof release of Stagg to date. However, it is still a healthy 116.9 proof.

Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon is made with the classic Wild Turkey mash bill -- 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. It matures in heavy "alligator" char new American oak barrels and is hand-selected by Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. Each honey barrel is then bottled at a hearty 110 proof without chill-filtration in order to preserve maximum flavor.

“Wheated bourbon" is bourbon with wheat as the predominant grain in the mash bill after corn. Traditionally, rye takes that second billing. This 12 year-old whiskey is referred to by some as the "poor man's Pappy". With the exception of the 23 Year Pappy Van Winkle which still has some Stitzel-Weller juice in it, all Pappy and Weller bourbons use the Buffalo Trace wheated mash bill. The main difference will be in the barrel management.

Redbreast 27 Year is a new permanent addition to the brand's portfolio which launched in March 2019. This single pot still whiskey will be made in limited quantities going forward. A portion of the distillate matured in ruby port casks while ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry make up the rest of the blend. Aged for 27 years, Redbreast 27 is bottled at cask strength.