Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley and Grammy-winning Country star Chris Stapleton has unveiled Traveller Whiskey Full Proof, the brand’s first line extension.
Curious how far Traveller’s signature 90 proof of Blend No. 40 could be pushed without sacrificing its approachable character, the duo began exploring different blend adjustments and techniques. The breakthrough came during a backstage tasting, where Stapleton and his band unanimously agreed the selected 121 proof expression captured something special and needed to be bottled.
“Prior to collaborating with Harlen Wheatley and Buffalo Trace Distillery on Traveller Whiskey, I generally leaned toward higher-proof and barrel-strength bottles,” Stapleton shares. “Needless to say, when we decided to experiment with a higher-proof expression, I was excited to see where that could land. One night after a show, we had two potential Full Proof contenders backstage with the band and some friends. Everyone agreed 121 was the clear winner. It’s the same easy-to-drink DNA, just turned up a few notches. I think Traveller Whiskey Full Proof is one of those moments where more of a good thing is definitely a good thing.”
“Across our products, we like to experiment with proof as a way to bring out different flavor characteristics already present in the whiskey,” says Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller, Buffalo Trace Distillery. “When we started experimenting with proof in Traveller’s blended recipe, flavors and finishes came to the forefront that aren’t as apparent in the 90 proof blend. It’s remarkable how different the blended recipe responds to proof variation compared to our straight bourbons. We think where we’ve landed is a completely unique offering that every whiskey drinker should try.”
In 2025, Traveller became the “Official Whiskey of Major League Baseball” and captured the attention of NASCAR fans worldwide when JR Motorsports’s Traveller Whiskey No. 40 Chevrolet, driven by Justin Allgaier, navigated a dramatic top 10 finish in the 2025 running of the Daytona 500.
Traveller’s 121-proof release was quietly revealed in late January in a social media video featuring NASCAR Hall of Famer and JRM Co-Owner Dale Earnhardt Jr, Stapleton and Allgaier.
Initially launched as a limited release in February 2026, Traveller Full Proof is now available for $39.99
