Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary: First Uncut, Unfiltered Release

Buffalo Trace Distillery has released Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition. It is the first uncut and unfiltered version of Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon, released four decades after the original.

Elmer T. Lee joined the then-George T. Stagg Distillery in 1949 as a maintenance engineer, after serving in World War II and graduating from the University of Kentucky. He rose to Master Distiller. In 1984 he introduced Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon, the world’s first single barrel bourbon. The distillery honored him with Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon in 1986.

“Elmer’s legacy is something we feel and celebrate every day at the Distillery, not just in the bourbon we make, but in the way we approach our work,” said Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “His commitment to craftsmanship guided not only our future at Buffalo Trace, but it also helped set the course for American whiskey as a whole. I was fortunate to learn from Elmer early in my career, and his guidance left a lasting impression on how I approach my work. Releasing this rare whiskey in his honor is incredibly meaningful and a privilege for all of us at the Distillery.”

The whiskey was drawn straight from the barrel with no water added and no chill filtration. That is close to how Lee would have tasted barrels when he chose them for Blanton’s. Each barrel is bottled at its natural proof, from 124.8 to 138.6.

“For the first time, we’re sharing Elmer T. Lee Bourbon exactly as it comes from the barrel,” said Erica Bovard, Senior Brand Director, American Whiskey. “By offering it uncut and unfiltered, we’re able to highlight the depth and character of the whiskey while staying true to the standards Elmer set. We think fans will love this release, and importantly, it’s one we believe Elmer would be proud of.”

Tasting notes:

Apricot, almond, vanilla, toasted coconut and honeysuckle, leading to a rich, chewy palate with crème brûlée sweetness and a long finish of toasted oak and baking spice.

Price and how it was sold:

$99.99 (750mL). It was sold through Buffalo Trace’s first-ever Bottle Draw. Entry ran Sept. 15–17, with one entry per person. An independent partner drew winners on Sept. 22, and they bought bottles at the distillery Sept. 28 through Oct. 11. The Bottle Draw is in addition to the distillery’s daily bottle rotation, and Buffalo Trace says it will use feedback to refine future draws at buffalotracedistillery.com/draws.