I Blind Tasted the 2024 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. My Rankings Might Surprise You

Ask any whiskey fan what annual release they're most excited for, and it's likely one of five bottles from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC). Frankfort, KY-based Buffalo Trace Distillery first released the limited-edition set in 2000 as a trio of bottles, which included Eagle Rare 17-year and William Larue Weller 19-year bourbons, and Sazerac 18-year rye. 

The amount of bottles and their age statements have changed over the years, but the distillery has kept those original labels and added George T. Stagg Bourbon and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye to the set.

Although I've tasted the whiskeys in different settings, this year is the first I actually received the complete set to savor in a single tasting. So I thought, why not try them blind to see what comes out on top?

Bare in mind, these rankings are based on my opinion and palate; they're not definitive. If I'm critical of a bourbon or rye you like, it's a reflection of my tastes, not yours. That's the best part about sharing whiskey, even virtually. It's camaraderie—a way to learn from others' experiences and proclivities. 

So, let's compare notes—shoot me an email at Whiskey@MensJournal.com with your favorite BTAC bottle and why. Now, onto the taste test.

How I Taste Tested the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

I received small decanted bottles from Buffalo Trace for the taste test and covered their labels. I mixed them around, settling on a random order. On the top of each bottle, I wrote a number from one to five.

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I poured a glass of water and filled a Glencairn with a nondescript, low-proof bourbon from my whiskey collection, which acted as a palate cleanser between tastes. I poured roughly an ounce of each BTAC whiskey into a Glencairn and let them sit for a few minutes before tasting. Due to how little of each whiskey I received, I only tried them neat.

To avoid primacy and recency effects, I made sure to re-test the first sample after I tried the last one, as I figured my palate would warm up as the tasting went on. Finally, after I took my blind taste notes, I ranked them. Without further ado, here's how things shook up.

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2024 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Ranked

5. Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye Whiskey

• Type: Rye whiskey
• Proof: 90
• Age statement: 18 years

Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye Whiskey was the last sample I tasted, and it was my least favorite by far. While the official notes mention scents of oak, leather, earth, rye, and ripe plum, to my nose, it was all plum and similar fruits. 

As such, I expected a fruit-forward palate, but such flavors didn't touch my tongue. Instead, I tasted oak, caramel, and an unpleasant bitterness like old coffee. The finish faded fast and tasted flatly of oak and tobacco.

Official notes mention rye spice, dark cherry, licorice—the bitterness culprit—and smoke, most of which I didn't get. But the finish was spot on, though I didn't really enjoy it. 

Although the nose was nice, it felt disingenuous of the drink to come. Because the finish was too short, my lasting impression was the unpleasant bitterness from the palate, so I had no inclination to pick the glass up and try another sip. Hence, Sazerac's last place in the rankings. 

4. Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon

• Type: Bourbon
• Proof: 101
• Age statement: 17 years

I'm not over-the-moon for Eagle Rare. The typical 10-year expression is, to me, smooth but one-note, a safe-bet crowd-pleaser. So, I was not surprised to find that Eagle Rare 17, the first sample I tried, ended up being second to last in my rankings.

That's not because it's bad; Eagle Rare 17 is solid. On the nose, I whiffed caramel and fruit, which led to a classic oaky palate with hints of baking spice and vanilla. The finish dissipated fast, but left pleasant dark chocolate notes in my mouth. Official notes name oak, caramel, vanilla, and pepper on the nose; rye, oak, and tobacco on the palate; and a roasted tobacco and dried fruit finish.

I would certainly drink this one again. I liked it better than the Eagle Rare I'm used to drinking. But when given a choice between this pour and the three to come, I'm always reaching for the next three.

3. George T. Stagg Bourbon

• Type: Barrel-strength bourbon
• Proof: 136.1
• Age statement: No age statement; aged over 15 years and two months

George T. Stagg was the third whiskey I tasted and appropriately falls in the middle of the ranking. But that's a testament to the two whiskeys ahead, not a detriment to Stagg. On the contrary, when I first sipped it, I recognized instantly that it was a well-executed example of a classic bourbon.

The nose was all caramel, honey, and spice. I tasted oak, vanilla, cinnamon, and caramel on the palate. The finish left a nice splash of complex spice and warm spots on my tongue and top of my throat, which hung around until I took another sip. 

My opinions were pretty spot on when compared to the official tasting notes, though I missed a whiff of dark cherries on the nose. Overall, this is a fantastic bourbon of which I'd certainly purchase a full bottle—but only at MSRP, which unfortunately is unlikely.

2. Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye

• Type: Barrel-proof rye whiskey
• Proof: 127.1
• Age statement: No age statement; aged over 6 years

Thomas H. Handy took me by surprise. It's the label I'm least familiar with, yet it blew me away. As the second to last sample I tried, I was pretty warmed up, but didn't expect how bold it would be. 

When I put my nose over the glass, I smelled oak, spice, and citrus. Upon a sip, my palate was flooded with rye spice, oak, and a hint of fudge on the back end. As I swallowed, I was left with an explosion of punchy black pepper and spice that stuck around for a long while.

I fully understand why this liquid is named after the man who first used rye whiskey in a Sazerac. The flavors are so enticing and powerful that I'm sure it would shine in any number of cocktails. I only wish I had more than a tiny bottle so I could mix it in various ways to concoct a special home recipe.

The official tasting description name drops scents of pepper and cinnamon, flavors of spice and oak, and a long finish of pepper, cinnamon, and clove. As I write this, my mouth is watering for another sip. And, somehow, there's still one whiskey left that outperforms even this fantastic rye.

1. William Larue Weller Bourbon

• Type: Barrel-proof wheated bourbon
• Proof: 125.8
• Age statement: No age statement; aged over 12 years

I tasted William Larue Weller second, right after Eagle Rare, and immediately scribbled "wow" in my notebook. Buffalo Trace must have gone all-out for this Weller offering, considering it's the 25th anniversary of the label.

A complex nose of pepper, baking spice, graham cracker, and fruit led into a palate rich with caramel, citrus, and oak. But the finish was the most surprising and delightful piece of the entire experience. It coated my mouth, causing me to pucker like I just had something salty and rich, like salted caramel pretzel ice cream. And it just stayed there. It must have been 30 seconds before it dissipated, and I needed more afterward.

On the official tasting sheet, the brand mentions tobacco, leather, caramel, fruit and marshmallow on the nose; caramel and toffee on the palate; and a long finish of fruit, caramel, and oak. As such, I'm not sure where I got the salty caramel pretzel from, but I'm sticking to it—the note was that prominent to me.

Throughout writing this article, I've flirted with the idea of shelling out for a full BTAC bottle. But Weller is the only one I'm actually going to seek out. It's that good. 

Final Verdict on the 2024 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

Buffalo Trace certainly knows how to make good liquor. With the exception of Sazerac 18, which I really didn't enjoy, all of these whiskeys are, in my opinion, worth seeking out, whether in a full bottle or as a pour at your local whiskey bar.

But while the bottles are meant to retail at $150 each, that's certainly not going to be the case. Because they're limited edition and so sought after, prices skyrocket on the secondary market. The new Weller's already $3,000 on some sites.

If you can find them at a reasonable price, buy them. But if you don't, just remember there are plenty of affordable whiskeys out there that offer similarly pleasant drinking experiences. Some of my favorites include Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Larceny, and Buffalo Trace's flagship bourbon.

And, if you miss 'em for a fair price this time around, don't stress. There's always next year.

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