From bourbon to rye, Buffalo Trace Distillery have everything you need to level up your game.
So, you want to become a bourbon pro? Maybe you’ve dabbled in light, approachable bourbon and you’re ready to turn up the heat – or in this case, the spice. Perhaps you’ve been around the rye block and are looking to add to your collection. Regardless of where you sit on the American whiskey ladder, we’ve got the next rung covered because whiskey is a wide (and sometimes overwhelming) world to explore. And, by the way, this ladder is one you can move up and down freely, go at your own pace and drink the whiskeys you find damn delicious.
Now, we should start by saying bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. And because we’re talking American styles, whiskey is always spelt with an ‘e’. If you don’t know your rye from your wheat, no worries; this guide will set you straight. If you haven’t already guessed, whiskey is complex, there are quite a few styles – bourbon, rye, wheat, Tennessee, corn – and that’s before we even get to flavour. So, we’ve called in the experts for some help here.
Our mates at Buffalo Trace Distillery know a thing or two about whiskey. In fact, they’re the world’s most highly awarded distillery, so we reckon they’re the experts. Located in Louisville in Kentucky, not only have they won all those awards, they’re also the oldest continually operating distillery in the US. They even remained open during the Prohibition, making ‘medicinal whiskey’. And as you’ll see below, they’re not home to just one well-known brand; close to 30 brands come out of the distillery. Whether you’re a first-time whiskey drinker or whiskey is your go-to, here’s how to level up your bar cart.
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1. The bourbon for everyone’s bar cart
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is their flagship bourbon (you could say it’s the favourite child). New to American whiskey? This is the place to start. It’s a classic Kentucky bourbon made using a mash bill (the secret recipe) of corn, rye and barley malt before hanging out in new oak barrels for an impressive eight years.
You’re just starting your whiskey journey (welcome!), so serve this one neat, that way you can really get to know the flavours. You’ll instantly be familiar with the sweet smell of vanilla and a little mint. Sweet tooth? Get ready for brown sugar, a hint of spice, toffee, candied fruit flavours and anise brings that licorice-like gold. There’s a lot to love about this whiskey, especially the fact that it’s a foodie whiskey, which means it’s incredibly versatile on the table – try it with a sharp cheddar or a rib-eye steak, and it’ll also love a creme brûlée. But we’re going full-on American feast – slow-cooked brisket and barbecued ribs, with the smoky flavours from the meat matching the vanilla, toffee and spice in your glass. Dessert? Apple pie and a huge scoop of vanilla bean ice cream (and we won’t judge if you feel like drizzling some of that Kentucky goodness over the top, either).
Now that you’re a bourbon fan (and how could you not be?), try mixing the Buffalo Trace in an Old Fashioned – you’ll just need sugar syrup and a couple dashes of bitters to go with it. This cocktail is stupidly simple to make – just chuck everything in a glass and stir.
2. The whiskey for the entertainer
Alright, now that you’ve dipped your toe in, we’ve got three words for you: country music and whiskey (sorry, four). The Buffalo Trace Traveller Blended Whiskey is the brainchild of Buffalo Trace Distillery and Mr Chris Stapleton – yes the 11-time Grammy award-winning musician. I mean, how could these two not collab? Chris has an album called Traveller, which includes a song by the same name, along with the tracks ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ AND 'Whiskey and You'. Talk about a match made in heaven. And if you’re a baseball fan, you might know this one as the official whiskey of the major league.
Traveller is a blended American whiskey – a mix of different straight whiskies to create the right one – and jam-packed with delicious notes of vanilla, aged fruit, buttery shortbread and caramel. It took more than 50 different blends for Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley and Chris Stapleton to land on the one (that’s a lotttt of taste testing). This is a whiskey to serve your mates – pour it neat, let them get a feel for it, and then you can pull out the ginger ale and serve it mixed over ice. Let’s talk food. Having your mates over to watch the game? You can’t go wrong with homemade sausage rolls. The whiskey will cut through the fattiness of the pork (fennel optional), while its sweetness will work with the flaky pastry.
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3. The bourbon for the explorer
Now that you’re feeling comfy with bourbon, it’s time to challenge your palate with an aged whiskey. Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey shares a mash bill with the Buffalo Trace, so you’ll get that same approachability, but with some added layers. As the name suggests, the Eagle Rare is aged for at least a decade before making its way into the bottle. Because of that age, you’ll smell notes like toffee, orange peel, herbs, honey, leather and oak. What will you taste? Candied almonds and rich cocoa. The rule here is: age = complexity.
Eagle Rare is known for its dry finish that lingers, so sip it neat and really savour its flavours. Serve it alongside a cheeseboard that goes hard on flavour – aged cheddar for its sharpness, aged gouda for its caramel and smoky notes, and a good ol’ parm for salt and texture.
4. The whiskey for the home bartender
Are you a die-hard whiskey fan? Do you love shaking up cocktails for your mates in the comfort of your own home? Then your bar cart needs a bottle of Sazerac Rye 6 Year Old Straight Whiskey. It’s known to some as the ‘Baby Saz’ because of its older sibling (or maybe parent?) the Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old Whiskey. But back to the six year old – put your nose in the glass and expect clove, vanilla, anise and pepper. Then take a sip and you’ll taste candied spice and citrus, before a hit of licorice on the finish.
This Sazerac Rye is named in honour of New Orleans venue Sazerac Coffee House, which is also where the Sazerac cocktail was invented; it’s since become the official cocktail of New Orleans. When it comes to the best food pairings, the complex Sazerac cocktail needs flavours that can stand up to its boldness – think rich pork belly, a well-caramelised French onion soup (sweet and umami), or if you’re going for The Big Easy vibes, go for a gumbo.
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5. The bourbon for the smooth sipper
Where the Sazerac is rye-forward, Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is known for its wheat-dominant mash bill. The difference? An exceptionally smooth taste and softer flavour profile. If you like a sweet treat, you’ll love the Weller, with caramel on the nose, honey and butterscotch in the flavours.
Sunday night dinner? We’re serving the Weller on the rocks with a roast chicken with all the trimmings – thrice-cooked roast potatoes, honey-glazed carrots and crispy Brussels sprouts tossed in parmesan. After dinner, mix up a round of Whiskey Sours – the sweetness of the Weller will allow the simple ingredients (lemon juice, sugar syrup and an egg white) to shine. If you’re serving dessert, the notes of butterscotch, caramel and vanilla of the Weller will match a chunky brownie – the more chocolate bits, the better.
6. The bourbon for the pro
Okay, trivia question. In what year was Kentucky named a state? Hint: next up is 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey. This small-batch bourbon is made outside the Buffalo Trace Distillery at the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown. It’s complex, with a signature ‘high rye’ profile, which means the mash bill uses more rye than traditional bourbons. We reckon this one is for those who are very familiar with whiskey and keen to understand (and taste) its intricacies. Its character and complexities come from that high rye and very careful selection of very specific barrels. In terms of flavour, spice is the hallmark here, but runny caramel, clove, cardamom and peanut brittle bring the sweetness. The team describes the 1792 as “brash and bold, yet smooth and balanced”, so basically it can do it all.
If you see a 1792, grab it – this is a limited release and often tricky to find. We’re going high-low here, serving the 1792 neat, alongside a takeaway Rogan Josh as the sweetness of the bourbon will cut through that tender lamb that’s packed with loads of spice. We’re going all out, so don’t forget to order naan, roti, rice, raita and a couple of samosas.
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Ready to move to the top of the bourbon ladder? You’ve made it! Congrats. Let us introduce you to Pappy Van Winkle's 15 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Now, all mash bills are special, but this one is a family legacy. It’s the Van Winkle family wheated recipe. Once the barrels have been selected, the bourbon goes into hibernation (read: aged) for 15 years. To put that into perspective for 2025, the Pappy has been ageing in heavy oak since the first iPad was released. Feel old?
As a result of that age, you can expect sweet notes of caramel corn and vanilla, and big, bold flavours of leather, oak, dark fruits and a bit of spice. Excellence demands excellence, so pull out your Glencairn glasses if you've got them (the tulip shape helps concentrate the aromas), serve neat, alongside a duck à l'orange (a crispy roast duck drizzled in orange glaze) with smashed potatoes roasted in duck fat.
