Buffalo Trace has unveiled the 2025 edition of its Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in the UK – a milestone year marking the collection’s 25th anniversary and the arrival of its first new expression in nearly two decades. For bourbon fans, it’s big news: the full Antique Collection lineup doesn’t often make its way across the Atlantic, and this year’s release from the famed Kentucky distillery is one of the most complete the UK has seen.
Launched in 2000, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection brings together some of the distillery’s most respected and historically rooted bourbons and ryes, each tied to a major figure in Buffalo Trace’s long story – and there’s plenty for collectors to get excited about.
Buffalo Trace has released its first new expression in nearly two decades. / Credit: Buffalo Trace
This year introduces E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, the first addition to the series since 2006. Aged 15 years and 4 months and bottled at 100 proof, it pays tribute to Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr., a key architect of modern bourbon. Expect vanilla, seasoned oak and gentle maple on the nose, with a balanced, classic finish that feels deliciously old school.
The 2025 lineup also includes familiar names all the way from Kentucky: Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old, George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Sazerac 18-Year-Old, and Thomas H. Handy. Each expression leans into its own character – whether it’s Stagg’s high-proof intensity or Eagle Rare’s tobacco and cherry notes – making the collection a snapshot of Buffalo Trace’s house style at its most considered.
We were lucky enough to try the full collection ourselves, and the differences between each expression are clear from the first sip. The new E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond is exactly as promised – warm vanilla and seasoned oak upfront, with that hint of maple sweetness coming through more prominently than expected. It finishes cleanly, with soft caramel and a touch of cherry.
The new Buffalo Trace Antique Collection lineup is a real treat for bourbon fans / Credit: Buffalo Trace
George T. Stagg is the heavyweight of the lineup: big, bold and with a high-proof not for the faint of heart, with deep oak and vanilla before it opens into those darker tobacco notes. Eagle Rare 17 shows its age beautifully – there’s a leathery, cherry-rich depth on the nose that carries through to a long, quietly elegant finish.
William Larue Weller is the softer, sweeter option, with layers of vanilla, maple and toasted oak, and a rounded palate that makes it very approachable even at its higher ABV. Sazerac 18 leans firmly into its rye spice, lifted by seasoned oak and a subtle herbaceous note, while Thomas H. Handy brings more brightness – lively oak and spice on the nose, a touch of apple, and a warm, spicy finish that goes on and on.
UK drinkers will be able to explore the range at select bars including The American Bar at The Savoy, Dram Bar, and Milroy’s of Soho, while bottles will be available at Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, and Hedonism from mid-December, priced at £150.
For fans of American whiskey, it’s a chance to sample a full Buffalo Trace antique lineup – something that rarely happens on UK soil – and to mark a quarter of a century of one of Buffalo Trace’s most enduring series.
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Buffalo Trace has unveiled the 2025 edition of its Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in the UK – a milestone year marking the collection’s 25th anniversary and the arrival of its first new expression in nearly two decades. For bourbon fans, it’s big news: the full Antique Collection lineup doesn’t often make its way across the Atlantic, and this year’s release from the famed Kentucky distillery is one of the most complete the UK has seen.
Launched in 2000, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection brings together some of the distillery’s most respected and historically rooted bourbons and ryes, each tied to a major figure in Buffalo Trace’s long story – and there’s plenty for collectors to get excited about.
This year introduces E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, the first addition to the series since 2006. Aged 15 years and 4 months and bottled at 100 proof, it pays tribute to Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr., a key architect of modern bourbon. Expect vanilla, seasoned oak and gentle maple on the nose, with a balanced, classic finish that feels deliciously old school.
The 2025 lineup also includes familiar names all the way from Kentucky: Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old, George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Sazerac 18-Year-Old, and Thomas H. Handy. Each expression leans into its own character – whether it’s Stagg’s high-proof intensity or Eagle Rare’s tobacco and cherry notes – making the collection a snapshot of Buffalo Trace’s house style at its most considered.
We were lucky enough to try the full collection ourselves, and the differences between each expression are clear from the first sip. The new E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond is exactly as promised – warm vanilla and seasoned oak upfront, with that hint of maple sweetness coming through more prominently than expected. It finishes cleanly, with soft caramel and a touch of cherry.
George T. Stagg is the heavyweight of the lineup: big, bold and with a high-proof not for the faint of heart, with deep oak and vanilla before it opens into those darker tobacco notes. Eagle Rare 17 shows its age beautifully – there’s a leathery, cherry-rich depth on the nose that carries through to a long, quietly elegant finish.
William Larue Weller is the softer, sweeter option, with layers of vanilla, maple and toasted oak, and a rounded palate that makes it very approachable even at its higher ABV. Sazerac 18 leans firmly into its rye spice, lifted by seasoned oak and a subtle herbaceous note, while Thomas H. Handy brings more brightness – lively oak and spice on the nose, a touch of apple, and a warm, spicy finish that goes on and on.
UK drinkers will be able to explore the range at select bars including The American Bar at The Savoy, Dram Bar, and Milroy’s of Soho, while bottles will be available at Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, and Hedonism from mid-December, priced at £150.
Buffalo Trace Distillery London in Covent Garden will also host an exclusive guided tasting next month, with complimentary tickets available via an Instagram competition on @buffalotracedistillery_uk_eu.
For fans of American whiskey, it’s a chance to sample a full Buffalo Trace antique lineup – something that rarely happens on UK soil – and to mark a quarter of a century of one of Buffalo Trace’s most enduring series.
For more information on the Antique Collection visit buffalotracedistillery.com/brands/antique-collection.
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