Buffalo Trace Distillery has released Buffalo Trace Experimental Peated Bourbon, a Kentucky straight bourbon made with smoked peated malt, as the latest expression in their Experimental Collection.
This collection debuted in 2006 and now reaches its 26th release with Peated Bourbon. Each expression in the collection seeks unique characteristics and a taste profiles through changes in the mash bill, types of wood, barrel treatment and more. As not every experiment is deemed worthy of bottling, these whiskeys are released periodically and sold on a limited basis.
“The Experimental Collection is not about breaking the rules of bourbon; in fact, 95% of our experiments stay within the confines of traditional methods of making whiskey,” says Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace’s Master Distiller. “We conduct this research to better understand the variables that affect our final flavor profiles.”
“We were eager to experiment with peat to see how the grain influenced our mashbill from a recipe perspective,” Wheatley adds. “We anticipated it providing the perfect hint of smoke, just enough to compliment the sweet and spicy notes from the rye, and I’m happy to report our hypothesis was correct.”
This release subbed in smoked peated malt as a flavoring grain for traditional barley, which lends just a hint of smoke to the high-rye bourbon mashbill, the company says. The experimental distillate aged for nearly ten years in new charred white oak casks, undergoing regular spot checks by Wheatley and his team before bottling at 90 proof.
The nose is smoky and nutty, with hints of leather, mahogany and cacao beans, the company reports. The influence of the peated malt provides a palate of light smoke, brown butter and a sweet toffee finish.
While common in Scotch and other global whisky categories, peated malt is an ingredient rarely found in American whiskey production.
Buffalo Trace Experimental Peated Bourbon rolls out in limited quantities to select retailers and restaurants across the U.S. this May. Due to the limited nature of these releases, all expressions from the Experimental Collection are packaged in 375-ml. bottles and available in extremely limited quantities. Suggested retail pricing is $46.99 per bottle
This follows the recent release of Buffalo Trace Old Charter Oak Spanish Oak bourbon.
