Bradshaw Bourbon vs Buffalo Trace: Which Wins?

Discover the differences between Bradshaw Bourbon vs Buffalo Trace in this in-depth comparison and decide which Bourbon is better for You!

Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Nose	Ethanol, caramel, vanilla
Palate	Rye spice, Snickers, orange
Finish	Long, warm, rye spice
Alcohol content	103.8 proof (51.9% ABV)
How to drink	Neat, rocks
Similar to	Wild Turkey Longbranch

Terry Bradshaw, who needs no introduction, has joined the celebrity liquor business with a bourbon crafted by Silver Screen Bottling Company who also makes Alan Jackson’s Silverbelly.

The nose kicks-off (pun intended) with a strong ethanol hit that fades away as you let it breathe giving way to caramel and vanilla hints.

On the palate, Bradshaw has a decent body providing a good mouthfeel.

First sip feels a tad warm and hits with rye spice, followed by a peanut and caramel flavor that tastes like a Snickers bar, along a tad of orange and vanilla.

The finish is long and warm as you feel the heat on the way down, hitting with rye spice and a bit of vanilla.

Adding ice makes it a little better, as it doesn’t feel as hot making it easier to drink.

Bradshaw Bourbon is aged for a mere 2 years and you can tell as it feels rough around the edges. 2 additional years would have made it much better, IMO.

It tastes pretty much like the Old Grand Dad as they are made using a similar mash making me prefer the OGD which is considerably more affordable.

Bradshaw is average at best. Nothing stands out, just a middle of the road bourbon that is bearable, but fits in within the pack.

There are a few facts worth knowing about Bradshaw Bourbon:

• Crafted in Kentucky by SIlver Screen Bottling Company.

• Aged for 2 years.

• Mash is comprised of 70% corn, 21% rye 9% malted barley.

• Bottled at 51.9% ABV, honoring Bradshaw’s passing completion rate during his NFL career.

Buffalo Trace

Nose	Caramel, cinnamon, baking spice, cereal
Palate	Caramel, vanilla, oak, espresso coffee, chocolate
Finish	Vanilla, baking spice, oak
Alcohol content	90 proof (45% ABV)
How to drink	Neat, rocks
Similar to	George Dickel 12, Knob Creek, Four Roses

Buffalo Trace is one of the top-selling whiskeys for two good reasons: it delivers a smooth yet tasty taste and is attractively priced delivering good value for the money.

On the nose the Buffalo Trace is very subtle with notes of caramel, vanilla and a touch of baking spice. 

Taste hits the spice a little harder, displays oak and fruit and the underlying sweetness is still there, a little caramel and vanilla goes a long way. Mouthfeel is soft and approachable, light on the heat.

The finish has a decent length, rich in vanilla and baking spice, although flavors don’t sit on the tongue for long but leave a refreshing sensation in the mouth.

The Buffalo Trace is a well-rounded bourbon, making a nice easy sipper with a medium to full body, soft with a chewy feel, fruity and oaky with a medium spicy finish.

Neither intense nor mind-blowing, but it gets the job done delivering a pleasant and satisfying bourbon.

Overall, Buffalo Trace is a good mid-shelf bourbon, a sipper that does not need neither water nor ice. Makes a solid option for an “everyday whiskey” but not the best mixer as it lacks the punch to deliver tasty cocktails.

There are a few facts worth knowing about Buffalo Trace:

• Buffalo Trace is made from corn, rye and malted barley in undisclosed amounts.

• Buffalo Traces uses a unique aging process of 8 years in which the barrels are stored in the middle floors of the warehouse where temperature fluctuations are the greatest; these variations get reflected in the bourbon creating deeper flavors.

• 40 barrels at a time are chosen to create one single, small batch of Buffalo Trace.

Bradshaw Bourbon vs Buffalo Trace: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Bourbon	Price
Bradshaw Bourbon	$43
Buffalo Trace	$33

Bradshaw Bourbon vs Buffalo Trace: Which is better?

Buffalo Trace is a better sip

Whiskey	Bradshaw	Buffalo Trace
Nose		✅
Body	✅	✅
Palate		✅
Finish		✅
Value		✅

• If you are a Steelers fan Bradshaw Bourbon is acceptable and something well worth having as a token. If not there are several better bourbons particularly at such price range providing better value for the money.

• Buffalo Trace is a better deal, it drinks nicely with no unnecessary roughness (pun intended) making a perfect everyday whiskey.

Celebrity liquors are tricky as sometimes they are worth buying despite the inferior quality. It happened to me with the Old Forester Statesman which I bought after watching The Kingsman.

The film is much better than the bourbon as it tastes like cough syrup I enjoy having it in my cabinet as it reminds me of the movie series.

So if you are a Steelers fan go for it being aware that is not going to be that good, bu staring at it will remind you of the 4 Super Bowl wins making it worthwhile.