The Official (BTAC) Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Thread

Such good bourbon/whiskey deserves it’s own thread. I plan on trying everything from the 2011 release within the next week or so. Feel free to use this thread to post on anything related to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

I was only able to get the Weller and Eagle 17 this year. The shops limit you one per person here. I was trying to track down the Stagg and Sazerac. I’m interested on any thoughts on the last two, especially if there are more similarities versus differences year in and year out. I have reached out to my inlaws in Palm Springs/Dessert to see if they can find any.

very cool. i notice PA has the sazerac for a good price. curious what you think about it.

Ok, so I went for the sazerac 18 tonight. I have had the 2010 from a friends bottle but dont remember much about it except that I did enjoy it. The Saz 18 is a dying breed as the remaining juice distilled in its last year (1985) is currently sitting in tank, then bottled and released every year. Not sure what BT’s plan is once its gone but it might be a good idea to stock up now while its still available.

Served it straight up. Overall its a very nice drink, doesn’t have the smoothness that a wheater might have, really liking the extra bite. Great nose of charcoal, oak char, smoke, vanilla and a bit of caramel. More of the oak char is evident on the palate, nice punch and bite but still remains very smooth.

Thanks for the notes Tyler. I am eyeing the Eagle 17 and the Larou recently, so I’ll await the notes on those.

Went for the Weller tonight, served straigt up. The Weller is a 13 year old wheated bourbon dilstilled in the fall of 1998 and released this year. Barrel proof clocks in at 133.5.

Proof isn’t very noticeable on the nose, caramel, toffee, smoke with a touch of creaminess. Proof is much more noticeable on the palate and could probably use a bit of watter or small ice cube to calm it down. White pepper spice, more of the creamy and possibly rich round mouthfeel which reminds me of pappy 20. Compared to the sazerac 18 this is a bit more voluptuous but the proof makes itself known. I like it and I think I would like it more with a bit of water or slight chill down. Also curious to see what this does with a bit of air in the bottle over some time. I like it overall, nice to have a few different styles within the BTAC to enjoy.

Larue and Sazerac 18 enroute to a couple of Valley nimrods soon.

I’ve been draining my Handy recently - I love these bottles! Only one I have yet to have is the Saz

I’m just happy as pie to have a sip of all of these beauties (along with Pappy 20/23) a few times a year! Until then, I’ll enjoy Buffalo and Eagle Rare Single Barrel a few times a week. Oh, and traded a bottle of Dehlinger Zin for a signed bottle of Eagle by Master distiller Harlen Wheatley and Master Cooper Brad Boswell. World Cooperage baby. Gotta love the biz!

:smiley:

I have never had the Weller or the Sazerac but out of the other three, I think Handy crushes the ER17 and the Stagg is nearly undrinkable. I’m liking the dry flavors of Rye more and more.

Fortunately, I resemble this remark.

Come back to Napa and we can run the entire BTAC.

I’d be impressed if you could drink the Stagg neat - I haven’t tried it yet, but that proof screams ice to me. Not having tried them all in 2011, but having had some iteration of them over the years -I prefer the ryes (Saz/Handy), then the Weller, then the straights. Looking forward to trying the '11 ER17 - didn’t much care for the '10.

Yeah the ER17 is good, but for me it’s not worth $75ish which is what it goes for in MA. I’d rather have several bottles of the 10year or a smattering of Elmer T. Lee, Old Weller Antique Barrel Proof, Buffalo Trace, etc.

The flavor and richness of the Stagg is second to none in my book - no way would I drink it neat though - it’s like fire water!

Made a Sazerac with the Sazerac really good.

George

Sipping on my first 2011 ER17 and this is a delicate flower. Good but I prefer a little more richness like '10. Nose is killer though!

Went with the George T Stagg tonight. Served over a single ice cube the size of a a quarter. The stagg released this year was distilled in the winter of 1993 and clocks in at 142.6 proof. At 18 1/2 years old this stuff is still pretty potent. Clearly the darkest color when compared to the other 4 in the collection.

A big rich powerful nose of maple, dark wood char, browned caramel and maybe some coffee grounds. Even after a bit of ice and some melting this is by far the most dense, rich and boozy of the two I have had so far (Weller & Sazerac 18). I thought I would be spewing flames but it seems to be rich enough to hold the abv. More browned caramel, baking spice, tobacco and some spicy wood notes. I couldn’t imagine drinking with with out ice, its a must. Love the contrasting styles so far within this collection.

I think last years came in at 144 proof, I like it sitting in the glass for ten minutes then adding the cube.

Does it all evaporate?? [snort.gif]

Love to try it. Can’t find it for close to regular price anywhere. Anybody know of a place?

George

I have a question about the Sazerac: Not sure if anyone here has been following this for a few years, but I read some discussion online that said the 2004 and 2005 were bottled from barrel at 18 y.o. and they were, according to this reviewer, awesome. Then BT “held” their remaining stock in steel rather than aging it further b/c of production issues and to prevent further loss until newer stocks could be readied. This discussion was from (I believe) 2009, and the reviewer found a somewhat less enjoyable product from those years, citing a tired quality and lack of vigor. So I was just curious if this seems consistent with what is known by anyone here? More importantly, is the current blend from barrel, or from steel? And of course, does anyone here know enough to compare, and, if so, does it matter?

I am relatively flush on bourbon right now but know that the depths of winter will take a toll on that pretty fast. So I am currently trying to decide what bottle or bottles to purchase of locally available stock. The options which most interest me at this point are the sazerac (65), the ER (65), and the Rittenhouse 25 yo (100). Leaning RH and one of the other two.