Buffalo Trace Finalizes "Perfect Bourbon" Experiment with Rerelease of Single Oak Project
Buffalo Trace Distillery moved its long-running Single Oak Project from a finite experiment into a permanent brand. The move marks the official commercial release of Barrel #80, the expression crowned as the "perfect bourbon" by a decade of consumer crowdsourcing and professional analysis. Alongside this debut, the Frankfort-based distillery also announced the 28th entry into its Experimental Collection: a wheated bourbon entered into the barrel at a historically low 105 proof.
The Commercial Launch of Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project Rye Bourbon
The Single Oak Project first launched in 1999 as a massive study of seven variables, including tree sections, seasoning, and warehouse floor types. After 192 unique barrels were sampled and reviewed by over 5,000 participants, Barrel #80 emerged as the outlier. The new permanent Single Oak Rye Bourbon is a faithful recreation of that winning formula: a rye-recipe mashbill, 125 entry proof, and aging in concrete-floored warehouses using staves seasoned for 12 months.
Industry analysts view this permanent placement as a significant shift in how Buffalo Trace utilizes its experimental "data" for mass-market luxury spirits. Each 375ml bottle carries an SRP of $74.99 and will be available through Sazerac’s national distribution network starting this month.
Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection: Low Entry Proof Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
While the Single Oak project looks backward at a completed study, the latest Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection (BTEC) release focuses on the chemistry of entry proof. The Low Entry Proof Wheated Bourbon was barreled at 105 proof, a sharp departure from the 114 proof standard used for the Weller and Pappy Van Winkle lines. According to the distillery, this experiment explores how lower alcohol levels extract different sugars and tannins, aiming for a profile defined by earth and dried fruit. This limited release is bottled at 107 proof and retails for $46.99 (375ml).
Photographs courtesy of The Sazerac Company
