Picking a Barrel Of Buffalo Trace Is An Amazing Experience

Introduction

Stop me if you have heard this story before, but the bourbon and whiskey community is downright awesome! Five years into this podcast and we have met countless amazing people. One of those amazing people is Bob Cutler from Bangor, Maine, owner of acclaimed restaurant, Novio’s Bistro. Over the last several years, Bob and I have become good friends as we have a lot in common. We both have sons born about a week apart, both former college athletes (albeit not good ones), and we both have incredible wives who are our better halves. While we have connected 100’s of times via text, phone call, podcast, and Instagram lives, we had never met in person, until this past November.  When I got a note from Bob that they were coming to pick a barrel, I was only praying he would invite me, which he did!

The Meal Before the Pick

The day of the barrel selection had finally come, and after weeks of planning, I was excited as I had never toured the hallowed grounds of Buffalo Trace before. But every good whiskey story needs a base and this one starts with a meal at Mussel and Burger Bar in Downtown Louisville.  We started our meal with a round of Buffalo Trace Old Fashioneds and had a variety of burgers and other entrees.  I tried something new that day, a burger mixed with chorizo. I was pleasantly surprised, but be warned that this one is spicy. While I could go on and on about food, I will spare you the rest of the details of the meal.  In short, it was very good and if you are looking for a restaurant to try while you are in Louisville, check out Mussel & Burger Bar.

Transportation and Arrival

After our meal, we began the 45-minute drive east from downtown Louisville to Frankfort, Kentucky, the home of Buffalo Trace Distillery. It is always smart to book transportation when heading to a distillery and while there are many great options, we had the luxury of Pegasus Transportation for this event. The drive was crucial as I got to know the group a little better and discovered Bob’s love for late 80’s/early 90’s alternative rock music. The time passed rather quickly and we arrived to our tour a little early. (Always a smart thing to do if you can manage it).

If you haven’t caught a tour at Buffalo Trace, or any distillery in Kentucky, make sure you plan your trip early. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association recommends booking your tour at least three months in advance of your visit. Once we arrived and checked in for our “Old Taylor Tour”, we were ushered to the Buffalo Trace Gift Shop to await the start of our tour.  This is like a candy store for all bourbon lovers. You will see all types of different swag and Buffalo Trace releases they have sat out for that day. I always stroll around the gift shops as my wife loves the soft T-shirts that you find at every distillery, and I easily spotted what I would pick up after the tour for her!

The Old Taylor Tour Highlights

We finally rallied upstairs to meet our tour guide, Lee, who (spoiler alert) was great. The tour starts out at the Spirts Vault, where you’ll ooze with jealously as you take a gander at all the allocated products that Buffalo Trace has come out with over the years.  You’ll understand why it is under lock and key as well when you look at what treasures lie behind the locked gates!

Now, that they have you captivated, they bring you to a wall featuring the titans of the bourbon industry, including Colonel Taylor to Pappy Van Winkle to Elmer T. Lee. You’ll quickly get a perspective of the history that has occurred on the grounds of Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Kentucky. From there, the tour guide led us out the back of the room and into the fermentation area where you get a glimpse of just how much bourbon and whiskey is being produced.  This tour occurred prior to the new column still, which went online shortly after we visited. In summary, there is even more whiskey being produced now!

You’ll take a short trip down the stairs and move outside to see where the grain is brought in and where the spent grain is picked up right along an alley adjacent to the Kentucky River. For me, this was my second favorite part of the tour. The industrial view, the steam coming off the equipment, and the hustle and bustle made you feel part of the whiskey-making process.

History Lesson

The tour only got better from there as we would head towards the oldest part of the distillery. If you are a fan of bourbon history, I urge you to take the Old Taylor Tour. You’ll get a unique perspective of what has occurred on this land over the last 150 years. As the history lesson kicks into high gear, you’ll begin to understand how far bourbon has come since Colonel Taylor was fermenting whiskey in the concrete blocks which Buffalo Trace uses today for small experimental batches.

Once we left the oldest part of the distillery, we took a short walk to the rickhouse to get a peek inside of where some of the best whiskies in the world were resting.  The excitement was building as the tour concluded there and we headed to pick our barrel of Buffalo Trace.

The Buffalo Trace Novio’s Bistro Barrel Selection Process

We were met by barrel selection coordinator Susanna Hubler as she explained what we would be picking during the process. If you ever get the chance to pick a barrel of bourbon from Buffalo Trace, consider yourself lucky!

We were met with four barrels Buffalo Trace that would be proofed down to 90 once we selected. Tasting barrel proof Buffalo Trace is something special though so savor it while you are tasting! The work part of this trip had begun as I knew Bob wanted me to give an opinion.

I used the same process I did for Bourbon Lens barrels picks in the past, nose all of them through and take notes and then go back and taste them.  Narrow the selection down to two and taste them blind to see which barrel wins out.  As I went through our tasting, there were two barrels that stood out to me; Barrels A and D.  I didn’t think the group would particularly like D as it was something I just picked up on that was unique.  The group chose A and C as the barrels to taste blindly which I was okay with.

The Blind Tasting

As Susanna set up the blind tasting, we waited in the rickhouse. Once she completed the blind set up and called us in, I smelled both whiskeys wrote down which sample was which. Knowing my new friends didn’t know too much, I shared the answers with two of them. A few short moments later and teasing Bob that he had guessed the barrels wrong. Barrel A had been chosen the winner! While we didn’t keep our tasting notes from that day, our tasting notes of the final bourbon can be found below. Bob has also created a cocktail for you to try all summer long, which features Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

Just the Facts of the Novio’s Single Barrel:

• Proof: 90
• Age: 7
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bob’s Tasting Notes: Buffalo Trace Novio’s Bistro Barrel Pick

Nose: Baking spice, nutmeg, candied orange peel, and vanilla cake frosting

Palate: caramel, oak, very oily mouthfeel, balanced with brown sugar

Finish: long for 90 proof, with notes of oak and vanilla

Jake’s Tasting Notes: Buffalo Trace Novio’s Bistro Barrel Pick

This is a great session bourbon that you can enjoy all summer long!

Nose: citrus, berry (raspberry jam), and finishes with burnt sugar and crème brûlée.

Palate: On the palate, it livens up, there is white pepper spice, with a very coating mouthfeel that isn’t harsh. Orange, vanilla, and brown sugar.

Finish: Very nice pour from front to back. It has a long finish for a 90 proof bourbon.

Buffalo Trace Maine Smash

• 2.25 oz of Buffalo Trace
• .25 Honey Simple (1:1) 
• .25 Fresh Lemon Juice
• .25 Lic 43 or favorite vanilla liqueur
• Shake all ingredients in a mixing tin, ice and pour cocktail into Collins glass top to club soda & roll the cocktail to mix club soda

Bourbon Lens Coverage of Novio’s Bistro:

• Off Hours with Bourbon Lens Episode 3: Bob Cutler
• Traveling To Maine, Stop In The Northeast’s Top Diner
• https://noviosbistro.com/
• Buffalo Trace Barrel Selection YouTube Live Interview

Bourbon Lens Coverage of Buffalo Trace:

• UK Healthcare & Buffalo Trace Form Fathers of Frankfort Mentor Program
• New Bourbon Coming from Buffalo Trace: E.H. Taylor 18 Year Old Marriage
• Buffalo Trace to Release $2,500, 25 Year Old Bourbon
• Exclusive Bourbon Bloody Mary Available at Watch Hill Proper For The Kentucky Derby
• Old Charter Spanish Oak Expands Collection’s Portfolio
• Sazerac Company Promises Transparency with Live Drawing for Rare Bourbon
• Need a Blanket? E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Will Provide!
• This is Your Next Bottle of Blanton’s Bourbon
• Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon Goes for Gold in US Market