Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Nicholas Reserve

There are few distilleries that garner as much attention as Buffalo Trace at the restaurant. It’s the number one requested bourbon at our bar by far.

Over the last few years, I’ve been trying to purchase our own barrel but getting a Nicholas Barrel Reserve at Buffalo Trace is only slightly easier than getting my own barrel of Pappy. The distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky and is the place where Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton’s, George T. Stagg, E.H. Taylor, Elmer T. Lee & Weller are made (just to name a few). Private tours are almost non existent and landing a visit to select your own barrel happen about as often as a New York Giant victory.

Buffalo Trace lives up to the hype though. I am blown away that they can sell a bourbon that is 8 years old at this quality level for such a fair price. I tasted through 25 barrels that were specially set aside for me by Bo Beckman who is the only guy in the private barrel program.

This barrel had a deep a golden color with a complex nose of vanilla, mint and molasses. On the palate it is sweet with notes of brown sugar and fall spice that give way to oak, toffee, & dark fruit. The finish is long and smooth with serious depth.