Bourbon Heritage Month is coming to a close but you can continue to celebrate the history of American whiskey with the release of Buffalo Trace Distillery’s 2019 Antique Collection.
The annual collection features five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs. Here’s this year’s lineup:
This year’s George T. Stagg comes in at 116.9 proof this year, the lowest proof in this whiskey’s history. Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley cites barrels located on the lower warehouse floors as the reason. “Many of the barrels for this year’s Stagg composite were taken from the first floor of the warehouse,” says Wheatley. “The first floor is cooler with higher humidity levels, therefore the alcohol evaporates faster than the water.” This year’s release contains bourbon from barrels filled in the spring of 2004. Storage location of these barrels varied across warehouses C, H, I, K, and Q. The evaporation loss for this year’s batch was 56%, a bit higher than last year’s release.
The Antique Collection’s wheated recipe bourbon is William Larue Weller. The 2019 offering was distilled in the winter of 2007 and aged in Warehouse I. This bourbon registers in at 128 proof.
This year’s Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was distilled in the spring of 2013; aged in warehouses K, M, and N, and weighs in at 125.7 proof.
Last year’s release of Eagle Rare went back to its roots with a proof change from the previous 90 proof back to 101 proof, in tribute to the original strength used when the brand was launched in 1974. The proof remains at 101 this year and will continue forward. This year’s release was distilled in the Spring of 2002 and has been spending its time aging on the first floor of Warehouse P.
2019’s Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old has notable flavors of vanilla and maple syrup, with a finish of black pepper and spearmint. The barrels for this whiskey were filled in the spring of 2001 and it rested on the second floor of Warehouses K and L.
The Antique Collection was introduced more than a decade ago and has become a cult favorite among whiskey connoisseurs. This year’s collection will be available in limited quantities starting in late September or early October for $99 each.
