Buffalo Trace Distillery has released its 2022 lineup of Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC), including the return of George T. Stagg Bourbon.
Last year, Buffalo Trace opted not to release its uncut, unfiltered 15-year-old expression because it did not meet the distillery’s standards for the Stagg brand. This year, the 2007 Stagg barrels showed up with its signature presence and at 138.7 proof, its highest proof since 2016.
The five ensemble members of the Antique Collection are George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller Bourbon, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey, Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon and Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Whiskey. These whiskies utilize three distinct mash bills, or recipes, from Buffalo Trace Distillery: rye mash bill #1, wheat mash bill and straight rye mash bill. Aged and proofed by the distilling and lab team experts at Buffalo Trace, this collection is sold separately and only available once a year.
Created in 2002 at the request of a fan for a well-aged and barrel strength whiskey, George T. Stagg bourbon is well respected amongst bourbon connoisseurs and spirit judges. This year’s offering was distilled in the spring of 2007, making it 15 years and 5 months old at bottling. This year’s barrels were aged in warehouse K.
The Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon is William Larue Weller. The 2022 release was distilled in the spring of 2010 and barrels were aged in warehouses C, K and N. This bourbon registers at 124.7 proof.
Thomas H. Handy is the uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2016; aged in warehouses I, L and M and weighs in at 130.9 proof, the highest proof for this whiskey since 2012.
The 2022 Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon is 101-proof whiskey was distilled in the spring of 2005 and barrels were aged in warehouses H, K and L.
This 2022 Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Whiskey’s barrels were filled in the spring of 2003 and 2004 and rested in warehouses K, M and P. It is bottled at 90 proof.
Bottles of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection are available now for $99 each.
