Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Recipe Straight Bourbon (2021 Release)

The aroma is very characteristic of the distillery, with abundant fresh ripe fruits (berries, apple, cherry, and tangerine) and underlying vanilla cream. While not the most complex nose, it is inviting. The palate is very similar to the Weller line, featuring soft fruits and vanilla. It has less oak or earthiness compared to some other products like the EHT line or Eagle Rare. There's no noticeable spice or oak. Like the aroma, it's simple but tasty. The finish doesn't change much, with only a slight hint of oak appearing. It leaves a pleasant caramel flan aftertaste once everything else fades. Despite expecting spice, none emerges, and it remains incredibly smooth. It's quite addictive, but fleeting. The mouthfeel is velvety, perfectly complementing the profile. Its drying effect encourages another sip. It's easy to understand why many appreciate this distillery's whiskeys, particularly the wheated ones, as they are tasty and approachable, and this one fits right in. It's a great alternative to the extremely hard-to-find Wellers, though I found the rye recipe slightly more intriguing. At $40 retail, this is an obvious purchase. I admit I paid a semi-secondary price of $70 just to obtain it, and I wouldn't pay that much again; it's simply too straightforward for a premium price. My rating reflects the retail price. Therefore, this expression is a great substitute for the difficult-to-find Wellers, although I found the rye recipe slightly more interesting. At $40 retail, this is a no-brainer purchase. I admittedly overpaid a semi-secondary price of $70 just to get my hands on it, and I can’t see myself paying that price again; just a little too simple for top dollar. That said, my rating is reflective of retail pricing.

Aroma: Oak, cherry, and baked brown sugar. A hint of crème brûlée with caramelized sugar and vanilla. A subtle plum note, not excessively fruity. Taste: Cinnamon. Significant warmth. Barrel heat. Further notes of oak and vanilla. Crème brûlée. An extremely smooth texture, resembling rich, creamy ice cream. Aftertaste: Very sweet oak, exceptionally pleasing. Continues the creamy sensation from the palate with lingering vanilla ice cream notes.

Surprisingly similar. Both are quite sweet, somewhat caramelly with fruitiness, rich, and quite alcoholic for their proof. The rye version is a bit more complex with some spice and, surprisingly, even sweeter sensations. Maybe slightly better, but ratings are similar. I'm not a fan, but it's decent.

Aroma of oak, apple, wheat, caramel, cherry, vanilla, crème brûlée, and graham cracker. The palate is sweet and smooth, with a little spice and pepper, featuring vanilla, apple, pear, crème brûlée, and cinnamon. Very pleasing.

I expected it to be like Weller SR, but they seemed very unlike to me. This had a reduced sweetness and more pepper/fruit notes. Adding ice mellowed it and introduced a touch more sugar, but I still wouldn't rank it alongside the SR.

I compared this to Weller SR, expecting them to be similar, and they were. However, Special Reserve had a slightly better aroma, while Kosher Whet had a longer finish.