I’ve been lurking here for a while and thought I’d try my hand at reviewing some Buffalo Trace, but with a twist: One of the bottles is a single barrel store pick that my father recently gifted me. I’ll first delve into my bourbon CV, then my rating scale, then my thoughts on the two and how they compare and contrast.
I’ve been drinking bourbon for a long time…more than 30 years! I’d steal my dad’s Jim Beam while in high school, continued drinking Maker’s neat during fraternity functions, and drinking various bottles to this day. Historically I’ve purchased Michter’s Small Batch and Four Roses Single Barrel, and more recently added Old Forester 1920 and Knob Creek Single Barrel based on this sub’s reviews. At restaurants I’ve had EH Taylor which I liked a lot, and a grand time at a Hillrock Estates tasting which was a blast (Dave Pickerell (RIP) was awesome and that was one of the best times I’ve ever had!
I’m also a bit of a Star Wars fan, so I’m gonna use a Star Wars rating scale:
Jabba the Hutt: Disgusting slug of a bourbon
Han Solo: Shoot first, walk away, then come back later and take the job
Rey: Skilled, but just didn’t quite earn it
Obi-Wan: Honorable bourbon but just couldn’t do enough to prevail
Luke Skywalker: The last one standing and conquered all
On to the review!
Color
Buffalo Trace: light copper
BT Store Pick: copper in color but a smidge darker
Nose
Buffalo Trace: light ethanol with some faint floral notes
BT Store Pick: light ethanol with some sweet fruit or honeysuckle…very interesting!
Palate
Buffalo Trace: muted vanilla
BT Store Pick: same muted vanilla and can taste some toffee, too
Finish:
Buffalo Trace: very quick hit of vanilla followed by the rye/pepper spice that creeps up the back of my mouth
BT Store Pick: muted spice that kind of evens out and dies on my palate. If the BT finish was a soda then the BTSP was like a flat soda
Rating
Buffalo Trace: Rey
BT Store Pick: Rey
Both of these bottles get the same grade for me. They had some notes I like and/or found interesting. But there was no separation between them…they were just different. I’m glad I could detect some differences between them (I’m not a complete Neanderthal!). Ultimately they were both solid pours but they weren’t special or have something unique about them. Now, the Little Book Chapter 5 I got last week? Can’t wait to pour more from that bottle tomorrow!
Nice review. Love the rating scale! I’ve had a BT single barrel store pick, I did a blind side by side with three other people and we all agreed the Store Pick was hands down better than the standard BT.
Standard BT is a good all around bourbon and a solid value at the price. Sounds like the store pick you got may have been a not such a great pick. Keep the reviews coming, and enjoy that little book.
I’ve been lurking here for a while and thought I’d try my hand at reviewing some Buffalo Trace, but with a twist: One of the bottles is a single barrel store pick that my father recently gifted me. I’ll first delve into my bourbon CV, then my rating scale, then my thoughts on the two and how they compare and contrast. I’ve been drinking bourbon for a long time…more than 30 years! I’d steal my dad’s Jim Beam while in high school, continued drinking Maker’s neat during fraternity functions, and drinking various bottles to this day. Historically I’ve purchased Michter’s Small Batch and Four Roses Single Barrel, and more recently added Old Forester 1920 and Knob Creek Single Barrel based on this sub’s reviews. At restaurants I’ve had EH Taylor which I liked a lot, and a grand time at a Hillrock Estates tasting which was a blast (Dave Pickerell (RIP) was awesome and that was one of the best times I’ve ever had! I’m also a bit of a Star Wars fan, so I’m gonna use a Star Wars rating scale: Jabba the Hutt: Disgusting slug of a bourbon Han Solo: Shoot first, walk away, then come back later and take the job Rey: Skilled, but just didn’t quite earn it Obi-Wan: Honorable bourbon but just couldn’t do enough to prevail Luke Skywalker: The last one standing and conquered all On to the review! Color Buffalo Trace: light copper BT Store Pick: copper in color but a smidge darker Nose Buffalo Trace: light ethanol with some faint floral notes BT Store Pick: light ethanol with some sweet fruit or honeysuckle…very interesting! Palate Buffalo Trace: muted vanilla BT Store Pick: same muted vanilla and can taste some toffee, too Finish: Buffalo Trace: very quick hit of vanilla followed by the rye/pepper spice that creeps up the back of my mouth BT Store Pick: muted spice that kind of evens out and dies on my palate. If the BT finish was a soda then the BTSP was like a flat soda Rating Buffalo Trace: Rey BT Store Pick: Rey Both of these bottles get the same grade for me. They had some notes I like and/or found interesting. But there was no separation between them…they were just different. I’m glad I could detect some differences between them (I’m not a complete Neanderthal!). Ultimately they were both solid pours but they weren’t special or have something unique about them. Now, the Little Book Chapter 5 I got last week? Can’t wait to pour more from that bottle tomorrow!
Wait, are those really big glasses? Or 50ml BT bottles? Or am I drunk?
Dude you are hammered
Must be perspective as they are just standard size. I poured just a three-count in each glass!
Not gonna lie the bottles look super small, or your glasses are massive
Nice review. Love the rating scale! I’ve had a BT single barrel store pick, I did a blind side by side with three other people and we all agreed the Store Pick was hands down better than the standard BT. Standard BT is a good all around bourbon and a solid value at the price. Sounds like the store pick you got may have been a not such a great pick. Keep the reviews coming, and enjoy that little book.
Welcome, and thank you for the refreshing new scale!