Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Adds E.H. Taylor To The Lineup

Like the NFL Draft or Coachella announcing its festival lineup, the arrival of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) is a highly-anticipated annual event for bourbon heads. Its carefully curated selection of allocated bourbons and ryes represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship from Buffalo Trace Distillery, the current standard bearer for American whiskey. The upcoming 2025 collection includes a notable first in the BTAC lineage: the inclusion of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. This addition to the already coveted lineup promises to make the 2025 release one of the most highly sought after in recent memory.

The History Of The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection made its debut in 2000, a year after the historic distillery had been renamed Buffalo Trace and introduced its flagship brand. The inaugural release featured three expressions: Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye, Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon, and William Larue Weller 19 Year Old Bourbon. The collection expanded over the following years to include two more iconic bottles. George T. Stagg bourbon was added to the lineup in 2002 and remains one of the preeminent high-proof releases in American whiskey. 2006 saw the addition of a second rye, Thomas H. Handy, which came uncut and unfiltered and was bottled at cask strength.

Featuring prized highly-aged and high proof whiskeys, the BTAC collection is also a showcase for Buffalo Trace Distillery’s diverse mash bill portfolio. George T. Stagg and Eagle Rare feature the low-rye “Mash Bill 1.” William Larue Weller meanwhile uses the same celebrated Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill found in Pappy Van Winkle. Buffalo Trace’s Rye Whiskey Mash Bill is used in the production of Sazerac and Thomas H. Handy and is typical of so-called “Kentucky Style” ryes, which drink more like a bourbon due to their high corn content. The E.H. Taylor, Jr. line of bourbons also uses Mash Bill 1, however, details of its BTAC bottling are currently unknown.

The 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

While the official announcement from Buffalo Trace Distillery is still on the horizon, bourbon enthusiasts can confidently anticipate the return of the five core expressions that have long defined BTAC. The introduction of the E.H. Taylor, Jr. Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon marks the first time a bourbon from the recently reintroduced brand has been included and adds a new twist. As a bottled-in-bond whiskey, it adheres to strict regulations, ensuring it was distilled within a single distilling season at one distillery, aged for a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at precisely 100 proof. The specific age statement beyond the four-year minimum will be a key detail to watch for in the official announcement.

The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is renowned for its limited availability, a consequence of the meticulous aging process and the finite number of barrels that meet the distillery's standards. This scarcity results in a highly allocated release, with the number of bottles available to distributors significantly lower than market demand. While Buffalo Trace typically announces a suggested retail price for each bottle, the intense competition to acquire these coveted releases often drives actual retail prices considerably higher, with secondary market values reaching substantial sums. Upon the official announcement of the 2025 collection, Buffalo Trace will likely provide detailed tasting notes for each expression, offering insights into their unique aromatic profiles, palates, and finishes. The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is expected for release in October.

Photographs courtesty of Buffalo Trace Distillery and Pierre Auguste.