Buffalo Trace: Similar Bourbons & Alternatives

Last Updated on: 1st May 2024, 11:54 pm

J Highland

J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.

Written by: J Highland

Beyond Buffalo Trace: Exploring Flavorful Bourbon Alternatives

Looking for bourbons that capture the essence of Buffalo Trace but offer a unique twist? This guide explores various options to satisfy your bourbon cravings:

• For a bolder experience:
  • Bowman Brothers: This Virginia bourbon packs a spicy rye punch with notes of caramel, vanilla, and baking spice. Ideal for those who prefer a robust taste.
  • E.H. Taylor: A bottled-in-bond bourbon boasting a complex profile of cherry, chocolate, spice, and oak. It delivers a satisfying blend of sweet, spicy, and oaky flavors.
• For a spicy twist:
  • Sazerac Rye: This rye whiskey offers a spicy kick with notes of vanilla, mint, and anise. A great choice for those who enjoy the rye influence in Buffalo Trace.
  • Blanton's Bourbon: Uses more rye grain, resulting in a spicier profile with hints of honey, caramel, and leather. Perfect for those who appreciate rye spice with a touch of sweetness.
• For a matured taste:
  • Eagle Rare: Takes Buffalo Trace's mash bill to the next level with ten years of aging. The result is a sophisticated bourbon with notes of oak, dried fruit, vanilla, and baking spice. Ideal for those who enjoy a smoother, more complex bourbon.
• For a budget-friendly option:
  • Benchmark: A lighter-bodied bourbon with notes of maple, vanilla, and banana bread. Perfect for mixing cocktails or enjoying neat at an affordable price.
  • Benchmark Single Barrel: Surprisingly complex for the price, offering notes of caramel, crème brûlée, and orange peel. A great value for those seeking a Buffalo Trace alternative without breaking the bank.
  • Kirkland Signature Bourbon (Costco): Made at 1792 Distillery (owned by Buffalo Trace), it offers a spicy rye character with hints of sweet corn, cherry, and licorice. While a bit rough neat, it shines in cocktails.
• For a premium upgrade:
  • Buffalo Trace Single Barrel: Boasts a richer profile than the classic Buffalo Trace, with notes of cherry, baking spice, and caramel. Offers a smoother and more complex sipping experience (availability and pricing may vary).

Remember, taste is subjective! Explore these bourbons to discover your perfect match.

Selection Process:

This list highlights alternatives based on several factors:

• Shared Tasting Notes: Similarities in flavor profiles to Buffalo Trace.
• Mash Bill & Distillery: Bourbons with similar mash bills or produced by the Buffalo Trace distillery.
• Aging: Bourbons aged for a comparable time to Buffalo Trace.
• Customer Reviews: Feedback from bourbon enthusiasts for a well-rounded perspective.
• Affordability: A range of bourbons to suit different budgets.

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Quick Look at Similar Bourbons to Buffalo Trace

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Bowman Brothers: A Bold Leap from Buffalo Trace

• Nose: Vanilla, leather, oak
• Palate: Peppery rye, caramel, vanilla frosting, baking spice
• Finish: Apple, oak
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Made like Buffalo Trace, Bowman Brothers takes a bolder route. Aged in Virginia, it offers a spicy kick followed by caramel, vanilla, and baking spice. The finish is short but crisp.

Compared to its cousin, Bowman Brothers packs a punch, making it ideal for those who prefer a more robust bourbon experience, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Buffalo Trace Single Barrel: A Step Up, But Worth the Leap?

• Nose: Cherry, baking spice, orange
• Palate: Baking spice, cherry, caramel, brown sugar
• Finish: Cherry, orange
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Buffalo Trace's Single Barrel boasts a richer profile than the classic.

Expect aromas of cherry cough syrup, spice, and marmalade. The taste is smooth and inviting, with notes of baking spice, cherry, caramel, and brown sugar. The finish lingers warmly.

Limited availability and potential overpricing might make you think twice.

Related: Best Single Barrel Bourbons

Sazerac Rye: Spicy Rye for Buffalo Trace Fans

• Nose: Vanilla, cherry, mint
• Palate: Vanilla, mint, anise, oak, baking spice
• Finish: Short, oak, mint
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks, cocktails

Craving a spicier Buffalo Trace? Sazerac Rye delivers! Packed with rye grain, it offers a sweet-spicy combo on the nose (vanilla, cherry, mint) and palate (spicy kick, silky texture). The finish is short with oak and mint.

It's a solid, easy-sipping rye that builds on Buffalo Trace's profile with a rye punch.

Blanton's Bourbon: Rye Spice Meets Sweetness

• Nose: Vanilla, caramel, oak, old leather
• Palate: Creamy vanilla, honeyed, baking spice, oak
• Finish: Long, honey, brown sugar, caramel
• Alcohol content: 93 proof (46.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

Buffalo Trace's Blanton's uses more rye for a spicier kick. Honey, caramel, leather, and oak greet the nose. The taste is smooth and creamy, with butterscotch, vanilla, and moderate rye spice. The long finish is sweet and pleasantly warm.

Enjoy this well-crafted bourbon neat to savor its creamy body and balanced flavors.

Eagle Rare: Matured Elegance for Bourbon Enthusiasts

• Nose: Toasted oak, orange peel, maple syrup
• Palate: Oak, dried fruit, vanilla, caramel, baking spice
• Finish: Oak, tobacco, leather
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

Eagle Rare takes Buffalo Trace's mash bill to the next level with ten years of aging.

The nose is sophisticated - toasted oak with hints of orange peel, red fruit, and maple syrup. The taste is creamy and rich, offering oak, vanilla, dried fruit, and baking spice. The long finish is smooth, with notes of oak, leather, and tobacco.

While not for beginners, Eagle Rare is a rewarding sipper. At its MSRP ($50-$60), it's a good value, but avoid inflated prices.

E.H. Taylor: Beyond Buffalo Trace

• Nose: Cherry, tobacco, chocolate, cinnamon, caramel
• Palate: Vanilla, caramel, spice, oak
• Finish: Charred oak, black pepper, vanilla, cherry
• Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

E.H. Taylor shares Buffalo Trace's DNA but offers a bolder twist.

This bottled-in-bond bourbon boasts cherry, chocolate, and spice on the nose, with a unique reddish hue. The taste starts warm with a touch of bitterness, leading to sweet fruit, vanilla, and oak. The finish is impressive, lingering with charred oak, black pepper, and hints of cherry and vanilla.

Compared to Buffalo Trace, E.H. Taylor packs more heat, complexity, and a delightful sweet-spicy-oak balance.

Kirkland Bourbon: Costco's Big Box Bargain

• Nose: Vanilla, rye spice, oak
• Palate: Ethanol, sweet corn, cherry, licorice
• Finish: Oak spice, old leather
• Alcohol content: 103 proof (51.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Cocktails

Costco's Kirkland Bourbon packs a punch! Made at 1792 Distillery (owned by Buffalo Trace), it offers a spicy rye nose with oak. The taste is hot at first, but water brings out sweet corn, cherry, and a Dr. Pepper vibe. The long finish has a kick, with leather and oak spice.

While rough neat, it's a good value for mixing budget-friendly cocktails.

Benchmark: Affordable Buffalo Trace Sibling

• Nose: Maple, vanilla, banana bread
• Palate: Caramel, cinnamon, oak
• Finish: Vanilla, oak spice, caramel
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Cocktails

Benchmark offers a budget-friendly spin on Buffalo Trace with a lower proof and shorter aging.

The nose is inviting with honey, vanilla, and banana bread. The taste is thin, with light vanilla, caramel, and oak. The finish is short and simple.

It's smooth and easy to drink, making it a good choice for mixing or enjoying neat for the price.

Benchmark Single Barrel: Budget-Friendly Buffalo Trace Rival

• Nose: Ethanol, tobacco, brown sugar, vanilla, caramel
• Palate: Caramel, crème brûlée, vanilla, oak, orange peel
• Finish: Medium, caramel, baking spice
• Alcohol content: 95 proof (47.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Don't be fooled by the price! Benchmark Single Barrel offers a surprising alternative to Buffalo Trace.

Expect a warm nose of tobacco, brown sugar, and vanilla. The taste is creamy with crème brûlée, caramel, and a hint of orange. The finish is warm and spicy with hints of nuts and leather. Water unlocks even more complexity.

It's a steal for the price, rivaling the quality of Buffalo Trace.

Buffalo Trace: The Smooth & Affordable Bourbon Champ

• 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

Buffalo Trace reigns supreme for its smooth taste and budget-friendly price. Honey, vanilla, and spice greet the nose. The taste balances sweet (fruit, caramel) with a touch of oak and spice. It's medium-bodied and easy to sip neat, leaving a warm vanilla finish. Enjoy this everyday bourbon for under $30!

Learn more: Buffalo Trace Website