Buffalo Trace's Antique Collection Is Here, and We Got a First Taste

It’s the most wonderful time of the year … for fans of American whiskey, that is.

Along with the shifting colors in the trees, every autumn brings with it the arrival of limited-release offerings from some of the country’s most sought-after spirits producers. Among the most hotly anticipated of all those annual releases is the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, or simply BTAC to those in the know. The eponymous distillery behind these bottles has officially revealed what is in this year’s set, and we’ve got your first look — and taste — right here.

First, a brief bit of background. Buffalo Trace has been around for a long time. As in, founded in 1869, long time. Evidence even suggests that its precise address in Frankfort, Kentucky, was home to distillation since right before the American Revolution. But its status as a globally-worshipped whiskey maker is a distinctly 21st-century phenomenon. And the Antique Collection has a lot to do with that.

This extremely allocated lineup of liquids originally launched in 2000 as a showcase of historic brands with full flavors and, often, high proof points. That combination of rarity, notable lineage, and barrel strength formed the perfect recipe for adulation amongst the most devout whiskey enthusiasts. And ever since 2006, when the collection swelled to include five bottlings in total, they’ve been snatched from shelves fairly swiftly upon Release.

Today, demand is as robust as ever, and the quality of this year’s crop isn’t going to undo that reality. The 2023 batch includes three bourbons and two ryes. From the bourbons, there’s a 17-year-old Eagle Rare, painting over the palate in broad strokes of dark chocolate. According to the distillery, this batch includes the oldest stock of Eagle Rare since it originally debuted in the collection 23 years ago. Then there’s a high-octane William Larue Weller, bottled at an exacting 133.6-proof. The uncut, unfiltered wheated bourbon is built from the same recipe as Pappy Van Winkle and presents a maple syrup-like sweetness in the nose and finish. Last but certainly not least is this year’s George T. Stagg. Bottled at 135-proof, its cinnamon scents, tongue-tingling spice, and cherry chomping finish are bound to mark it as the most sought-after of the pack.

The duo of ryes includes an 18-year-old Sazerac Kentucky Straight expression, which surrenders clove in the nose and dried tobacco leaf in the finish. It’s super drinkable at 90-proof. Then there’s the markedly more assertive Thomas H. Handy, hot and full of orange zest, riding an unexpectedly light body given its 62.45% ABV. This one will probably be the preferred of the pair by seasoned whiskey aficionados.

All five expressions ship out to retailers nationwide later in the month. They each sell separately at a suggested retail price of $125 per 750ml bottle. However, if you find them sitting on shelves anywhere near that price, your local liquor store is run by an especially friendly proprietor. Or you live in the last part of the country where premium bourbons and ryes still somehow fly under the radar. At any rate, don’t expect them to be sitting on that shelf for very long.