Credit: Sazerac

The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) is the most sought-after annual collection of American whiskeys. The 2023 release saw bottles traded for upwards of 16 times their official $150 retail price. The chance to review the full Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2024 is one we couldn’t pass up.

Credit: Sazerac

The rye whiskeys are the least coveted in the collection and you can see why – they are hugely different to the bourbons on offer. This one is super spicy with notes of cloves and cinnamon. It’s bottled directly from the cask, unfiltered, so the spice is right on your face from the get-go, with lots more of those wintery spices on the palate as well. The recipe has a cocktail-inspired background; you can see how this might make a fine ingredient in a Sazerac or a Manhattan. For those who love spice over sweetness, this is one for you. Rating: 7/10

Credit: Sazerac

One of the three ever-presents in the Buffalo Trace Antiques Collection, the Sazerac 18 Year Old is as distinctive a rye whiskey as they come. You get a lot of candied pear and ripe stone fruits as well. An alarmingly light texture on the palate, this rye whiskey takes a bit of time to get going. When it does, you’ll get less of that sweetness and more bitter licorice. The fruit is there, but it takes some digging. Probably the weakest expression of the five, although that by no means qualifies it as a ‘bad’ whiskey. There’s still plenty to like about this, including a long and evolving finish that goes from spicey to sweet and then to charred oak. Rating: 6.5/10

Credit: Sazerac

Buffalo Trace has highlighted this as the star of the collection this year, coinciding with the Weller brand’s 25th anniversary under Sazerac’s umbrella. This is a complex wheated bourbon, offering a spectrum of notes, from fresh green apple skins to marshmallow fluff. There’s a hint of cigars, lemon, caramel and fresh leather as well. The cigars come to the front of the palate. Water brings out an unexpected umami quality with whisps of truffle. This won’t be to everyone’s palate, but there’s so much you can do with it, with the flavor profile evolving with each drop of water. Rating: 8/10

Credit: Sazerac

True to its origins, this George T. Stagg bourbon is a howitzer of a whiskey at 136.1 proof (68% ABV). The brand has always carried the heaviest of Buffalo Trace’s whiskeys, and this leaves that in no doubt. Curiously the nose does not give its strength away. It’s subtle with lots of vanilla and caramel. Blind tasters will get a rude awakening with the first sip, with an explosion of spice and oak influence. Naturally, this one needs a few drops of water, and it takes dilution very well. You can enjoy the more subtle fruit notes, like black cherry, cinnamon and caramel. Rating: 8.5/10

Credit: Sazerac

Eagle Rare bourbons are known for their reliably sweet and smooth texture, but this 17 Year Old is distinctive in its peppery spice. It’s still deliciously sweet on the nose, with caramel, toasted oats and lots of vanilla. You get much more peppery spice on the palate than usual, with the rye elements becoming notably prominent. It’s then onto the more traditional notes of an Eagle Rare BTAC, including caramel, worn leather and dried fruits. The finish is shorter, but there’s a pack full of flavor upfront. This Eagle Rare ticks all the right boxes for lovers of the brand with just a couple of pleasant surprises. Rating: 8/10