Welcome to The Pour, our new weekly feature where we highlight one bottle worth opening, share the story behind it, and show you the best way to enjoy it.
For Week 1, we're starting with a classic that defined generations of American whiskey:
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
Smooth, historic, and unmistakably Kentucky, this is the bottle that built a legacy.
The Bottle
The Story Behind the Bottle
Long before bourbon became America’s native spirit, early settlers followed massive buffalo herds across Kentucky. Along one of those ancient trails, on the banks of the Kentucky River, stood a small distillery that would eventually become an icon.
That distillery, today known as Buffalo Trace, survived fires, floods, wars, and even Prohibition, thanks to a special federal permit that allowed it to continue producing whiskey for “medicinal purposes.”
More than 200 years later, Buffalo Trace is the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States, still aging bourbon in brick warehouses built in the 1800s and still relying on the Kentucky climate to shape its flavor.
This is where modern bourbon legends were born.
Mash bills behind names like Weller, Blanton’s, and Pappy Van Winkle can all trace their lineage back to this very place.
When you open a bottle of Buffalo Trace, you’re not just drinking bourbon, you’re tasting American history.
Tasting Notes
Color
Deep amber with warm golden highlights.
Nose
Vanilla bean, brown sugar, and a soft touch of baking spice.
Palate
Caramel and toffee immediately upfront, followed by notes of orange zest, toasted oak, and a gentle warmth.
Finish
Long, smooth, buttery, and welcoming.
How to Drink It
Buffalo Trace is a versatile pour that shows beautifully whether you want it neat or in a cocktail.
Neat
Two ounces in a Glencairn or rocks glass. Let it breathe.
On a Large Cube
Softens the oak and enhances the caramel.
Old Fashioned
Buffalo Trace, simple syrup, bitters, orange twist.
Classic, balanced, reliable.
Pro Tip:
A bite of dark chocolate between sips makes the caramel notes explode.
Pair It With: Montecristo White Toro
If you enjoy cigars, Buffalo Trace pairs beautifully with:
Montecristo White Toro (6 x 54)
Creamy, smooth, and balanced with notes of cedar, coffee, and toasted almond.
The cigar’s mellow profile enhances the sweetness and spice in Buffalo Trace without overpowering it.
