Every year, whiskey enthusiasts eagerly await the announcement of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC). The highly-sought after lineup consists of three bourbons and two rye whiskies, crafted each year from exceptional barrels throughout Buffalo Trace’s vast stocks. The series feels like a longstanding pillar of the American whiskey world, but the Antique Collection has only been a part of it for twenty-five years.

That series that would eventually be coined the “Buffalo Trace Antique Collection” was originally created to add limited-edition, extra-aged products to established brands like W.L. Weller, Eagle Rare, and Sazerac Rye. In the case of Weller in particular, the brand had recently been acquired from Diageo, and Bufallo Trace was eager to put this legacy brand to work. These early editions of the collection were both an opportunity to showcase well-aged whiskies and a way to clear inventory that was in danger of over-aging. In the early 2000s, the bourbon world was just starting to climb out of a long period of decline, and these products were priced accordingly. The original suggested retail price for W.L. Weller 19 Year was $49.99, though it was commonly found in stores in the $35-40 range.

These early BTAC bottles were well-received with bourbon enthusiasts at the time and quickly gathered a cult following. The market turnaround in the early 2000s brought plenty of new fans that increased product demand—both in terms of quantity as well as demand for new expressions. Buffalo Trace responded accordingly.

ForbesIt’s A Malty ‘Take Two’ For Parker’s Heritage 18th EditionBy Chris Perugini

The Evolution Of The Antique Collection

The Antique Collection first debuted in 2000 with the first editions of Eagle Rare 17 Year and Sazerac 18 Year Rye, along with W.L. Weller 19 Year—a high-aged wheated bourbon bottled at 90 proof. Weller 19 Year was discontinued after 2002 because of Buffalo Trace’s partnership with the Van Winkle family, but was eventually replaced with the twelve year old, barrel proof William Larue Weller in 2005.

George T. Stagg, the barrel proof bourbon using Buffalo Trace’s low-rye Mash Bill No. 1, debuted in 2004. Stagg was created in response to a suggestion from a consumer in West Virginia for a well-aged cask strength bourbon. Others echoed that sentiment, but Buffalo Trace had their reservations, assuming that no one would want to drink an uncut, unfiltered whiskey. To their surprise, Stagg quickly became a fan favorite.

Thomas H. Handy, a barrel proof rye whiskey using the same mash bill as Sazerac 18 year—was introduced in 2006. The lineup has remained consistent since then with one notable exception. In 2021, George T. Stagg was omitted from the collection because the barrels that were earmarked for 2021 Stagg didn’t meet their quality standards. Rather that release a lower-quality whiskey, Buffalo Trace thought it would be better to release no whiskey at all.

2024 Brings Updated Tech Specs

Each year, details about the Antique Collection whiskies are shared in a public letter that’s included in each physical product case and on the Buffalo Trace website. These technical specifications tell a lot about each whiskey, including grain types, fermentation details, distillation specs, and aging locations. The letters for 2024 look like they reveal a stark change in production processes, but things aren’t as drastic as they appear.

The process for creating the letters was handled differently in 2024 and with it came the opportunity for updated production specs that better align with the distillery’s current operations. For example, over the years, Buffalo Trace has relined their original carbon steel fermenters with stainless steel. When distillery expanded, they put in all stainless-steel fermenters. This is accurately reflected in this year’s letters.

The distillery also lists Cumberland Cooperage as the barrel maker in 2024. Cumberland is Buffalo Trace Distillery’s internal barrel producer, but the distillery still partners with Independent Stave Cooperage.

Buffalo Trace updated the description of their source grains in 2024, which have changed in name only. For example, “Soft Red Winter Wheat” is the same grain previously described as “North Dakota Wheat” in 2023 and earlier.

One other notable omission this year is the list of specific warehouses and floor numbers where the barrels aged each whiskey in the lineup. Buffalo Trace isn’t claiming this information as private or proprietary and has shared these omitted details as an exclusive for this article.

2024 is the first year that whiskey from Warehouse AA has been used for an Antique Collection product (2024 Thomas H. Handy). Warehouse AA is one of 30 new warehouses being built as part of Buffalo Trace’s $1.2 Billion expansion, which began in 2018. As the whiskey in these expansion warehouses continues to age, expect future Antique Collection products to come from these new aging locations.

2024 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Information And Tasting Notes

Thomas H. Handy

Made from Buffalo Trace’s “low rye” rye mash bill (assumed to be around 51% rye), Thomas H. Handy was distilled in the Spring of 2018 and bottled in Fall of 2024 at 127.2 proof. The barrels used to create 2024 Thomas H. Handy came from the 4th floor of Warehouse K, the 2nd floor of Warehouse I, and the 6th floor of Warehouse AA.

This whiskey appears amber in the glass. The nose starts with a prominent burnt sugar note, then cranberry, flamed orange peel, green apple, a hint of fresh basil, teaberry, Werther’s Original, vanilla and grape must. Water adds some brightness, a bit of cotton candy, sweet oak, ginger syrup, and pink eraser.

On the palate, the fruity and herbal notes duke it out, but the herbal profile is in command. There are notes of rye spice, lots of earthiness, more apples, apricot, sharp pepper, cherry, caramel and some oak in the back. With water, citrus overtones are more present, along with cherry Pez, charcoal, and some brioche french toast.

The finish starts with more sharp white pepper, grapefruit, table sugar, sweeter oak, peach pits, hints of black licorice and cherry cough drop. Water brings out a cooling menthol, raisins, and more licorice.

THH 2024 is an herbal and dry rye whiskey that seems to inhibit the fruitier qualities of this whiskey. I liked this a lot more after a second taste, but compared to more fruit-forward THH releases like the standout 2014 and 2020 expressions, there are a few pieces missing to this flavor profile.

Sazerac 18 Year

Made from Buffalo Trace’s “low rye” rye mash bill, Sazerac 18 Year was distilled in March of 2005 and March of 2006 and bottled in the Fall of 2024 at 90 proof. The barrels used to create 2024 Thomas H. Handy came from the 3rd floor of Warehouses M and O.

This whiskey appears amber and clear in the glass. On the nose, notes of cooked fruits, apple pie filling, soft baking spice, lumber yard, raspberry, charcoal, a touch of dill and hints of juniper. With water, it’s more of a mulling spice, followed by citrus peels, a hint of dried flowers and cherry compote.

On the palate, notes of red grapes, maple, deep oak, clove, toffee, apple jelly, pepper, a hint of rye spice, dates, cherry pits and mocha. Water brings out lots of vanilla, dried apricot, honey and lemongrass.

The finish starts with raspberry compote, deep (yet soft) oak, vanilla, licorice, more pepper, leafiness, wood smoke and Luxardo cherry. With water, the oak remains present but much sweeter. There are also notes of sour cherry, some minerality and drying spice.

This Sazerac 18 has lots of cooked fruits and jam notes. The oak is big but soft, and everything is really nicely integrated here. This is a fun whiskey to experience neat and with water, as the profile takes a citrus-y turn with just a drop or two. Well done this year.

Eagle Rare 17 Year

Made from Buffalo Trace’s very low rye “Mash Bill No. 1,” Eagle Rare 17 Year was distilled in the Spring of 2007 and bottled in the Fall of 2024 at 101 proof. The barrels used to create 2024 Eagle Rare 17 Year came from the 2nd floor of Warehouse L and the 1st and 3rd floors of Warehouses Q and K.

This whiskey appears amber and clear in the glass. On the nose, notes of caramel corn, rich oak, sugar plum, lots of clove, vanilla creme wafers, pipe tobacco, bramble fruit and sawdust. There’s a richer sweetness and nuttiness with water, including honey, nutmeg, marzipan and chocolate hazelnut spread.

The palate starts with caramel, leather, a bit of rye spice, sharp oak, apple turnover, ripe peaches, chocolate-covered cherry and a hint of burnt sugar. The palate opens up a lot with water with peanut brittle, poached pears, candied ginger and toasted oak.

The finish is not as tannic as expected, with notes of dried fig, plum, old oak, anise, peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream, sugar cone, wood char and gunpowder green tea. With water, the finish is more aromatic with more leather and cedar, along with some dried red berries and more honeyed sweetness.

This Eagle Rare is not nearly as oak-forward as usual. With oak taking up less of the total flavor profile, I was expecting other flavor categories to take a more active role, but no one flavor group took charge. There was some fruit, some sweetness, a bit of spice and some nuttiness with water, but these flavors all remained part of the “supporting cast.” Everything that I tasted was pleasant and I appreciated a less woody expression, but no flavor category took the spotlight, leaving this whiskey missing that certain something to tie everything together.

George T. Stagg

Made from Buffalo Trace’s very low rye “Mash Bill No. 1,” George T Stagg was distilled in the Fall of 2008 through Spring of 2009 and bottled in the Fall of 2024 at 136.1 proof. The barrels used to create 2024 George T. Stagg came from floors 1-5 of Warehouses L, M, C, and P.

This whiskey appears amber and thick in the glass. On the nose, notes of black cherry, shortbread, raisins, buttermilk, cacao nibs, clove, cigar box, cranberry, cola and a touch of burnt sugar. With water, crumb cake topping, orange chocolate and caramel drizzle.

On the palate, chocolate ganache, cherries in syrup, red berries with freshly whipped cream, more cola, a hint of sassafras, and stroopwafel. Water brings a fruitier palate, fresh berries and some toasted coconut, along with a much drier oak.

The finish starts with warm oak, toast with raspberry jam, a hint of wood smoke, lots of prunes and dates, some orange peel and allspice. With water, toffee, red table grapes, and root beer float are present.

George T. Stagg remains consistent in 2024. It’s cherry forward and heavy on both chocolate and dark fruit notes. The heat is kept in check at 136.1 proof, similar to the 135 proof 2023 GTS and significantly better than the extremely hot 2022 Stagg. Fans of this unapologetically bold profile will be pleased again in 2024.

ForbesAt Least One Bottle Of The $7,500 Weller Millennium Is Open. How Is It?By Chris Perugini

William Larue Weller

Made from Buffalo Trace’s wheated mash bill, William Larue Weller was distilled in January of 2010 and February of 2012 and bottled in the Fall of 2024 at 125.8 proof. The barrels used to create 2024 George T. Stagg came from the 2nd floor of Warehouse C and floors 2-4 of Warehouse I.

This whiskey appears amber and rich in the glass. On the nose, notes of mixed berry pie, angel food cake, graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, intensely sweet oak, powdered sugar, vanilla and fudge. With water, the sweetness remains front and center, with honey-drizzled strawberries and an interesting dusty quality.

On the palate, vanilla bean, panettone, caramel, dried cherry, syrupy sweetness, cherry ice cream dip shell and cinnamon stick. Water makes this drink like a liquid Twix bar, along with whipped cream, raspberry, flaky pastry and marzipan.

The finish opens with cherry Jolly Rancher, balanced oak, hints of vanilla extract, pie crust, molasses, a touch of milk chocolate, honey and a bit of pepper. With water, orange peel, cooked apples and some soft maltiness add to a sweet and flavorful cast of flavors.

2024 brings about a sweet and refined William Larue Weller with excellent balance and structure throughout. This year’s Weller is everything I love about the brand with no astringency, the perfect amount of heat, and a soft sweetness that demonstrates exactly why wheated bourbon is so popular. This is one of my favorite Wellers in many years. If you are setting your sights on any BTAC release this year, move 2024 WLW to the top of your list.