Key Details:
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Single Barrel Select – Private/Bar Pick)
- Volume: 700ml or 30ml sample
- Proof/ABV: 90% - 45Abv
Jim Murrays Review:
Sazerac Barrel Select
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Bourbon – rye recipe
Lot 17-A-31 Barrel 003
45% abv
Rating: 94.75/100
Nose (23.5) Classic two-toned BT aroma. Nose engulfed in super-soft vanillas (at times shewing a certain Four Roses 8-y-o mid warehouse location persona) but with the contours of the rye clearly delineated, especially as the temperature rises, there is no doubting were this was made. This offers a wonderful good-cop, bad-cop effect of soft versus hard, especially when cooler where the brittle, sugary juiciness of the rye contrasts sublimely with the silky tannins. On warming there is both more intensity and rivalry between the two factions and for the first time we see a delicate spicey buzz promoting the input of the oak. Overall, though, as lazy and laid-back as any BT you’ll find, with this all about corn-oil fed subtlety and softness; the genteel sweetness against the firmer-fruitier rye with never a hint of domination by either side;
Taste (24) Warming spices are up and running from the first moments, ensuring an immediate zip to the palate missing on the nose. The rye element immediately springs into action with wave upon wave of salivating spiced sugars. The tannins are surprisingly active, too, and for the first time we get a feel of some very decent age, the oak biting into the grain while the corn oils can now offer only a limited degree of countering lushness. It is that brief but gorgeous blast of hickory which really ensures an air of grandeur to this…;
Finish (23.25) Unlike the peaceful nose, this is determined to work away and niggle…and delightfully so. Again, a certain degree of age confirmed by the roundness to the tannin, like a pebble smoothed away by years of lapping waves. Simply adore the subtlety to the aging here….;
Balance (24) This is a bourbon-lovers’ bourbon. Its subtleties will be entirely lost by those who prefer theirs with coke or unable to fully appreciate the nuances to be discovered in highly quality fully matured bourbon. This is a bourbon all about understatement and complexity but with hidden, very polished gems for those who know where and how to look. The grains are confident enough to maximise their subtlety while the oak is not beyond briefly beating its chest but, like the grains, settles for a more cultured life. No off notes. No disharmony between the elements. Indeed, no conflict at all – because that spicy outpouring on delivery is very much controlled and colours the picture beautifully. Such elegance! Quite excellent.
Find the review in the Whiskey Bible 2026 edition available now.
