Messesment · 20 August 2026
Buffalo Trace
The Buffalo Trace distillery was founded way back in 1805 in Frankfort, Kentucky. Besides bourbon they also make rye whiskey and vodka, and the distillery itself sits in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest continuously operating bourbon distillery in the world.
Buffalo Trace bourbon is the flagship of the whole operation: bottled at 90 proof (45% alcohol), aged between 4 and 8 years in new, charred oak barrels. The recipe leans on a very large helping of corn with smaller shares of rye and barley, which is exactly why it drinks so sweet and easy.
On the nose: vanilla sweetness, caramel, and subtle fruit.
On the palate: balanced corn sweetness, wood, and caramel.
The finish: medium length, laced with sweet caramel and gentle spice. (The finish is the taste that hangs around after you swallow.)
Fair questions
+Is Buffalo Trace a good first bourbon?
Yes, arguably the first bourbon. It's sweet, smooth, forgiving, and around €30, so you can figure out whether bourbon is your thing without a payday sacrifice.
+What's the difference between bourbon and whiskey?
Bourbon is a type of whiskey. To earn the name it has to be made in the USA, from at least 51% corn, and aged in new charred oak barrels. All bourbon is whiskey; not all whiskey is bourbon.
+How should I drink it?
However you like, honestly. Neat if you want the full caramel hit, over ice if you like it colder and softer, and it makes a terrific old fashioned without guilt about the price.