It’s not like Buffalo Trace needed to release a celebrity-backed whiskey. After all, the distillery produces Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, and its eponymous Antique Collection—all extremely popular and highly coveted whiskeys.
Yet, last year, country star Chris Stapleton partnered with the distillery to release Traveller Whiskey. Stapleton had previously worked with Buffalo Trace to select a few barrels of E.H. Taylor, Jr., so the relationship was already there. But this time, they managed to come up with something different from everything else made there.
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Traveller is a blend spearheaded by master distiller Harlen Wheatley, who sourced whiskey from several different distilleries under the Sazerac umbrella, including Buffalo Trace, A. Smith Bowman, Barton 1792, and potentially some undisclosed whiskey from outside of the country.
The result is an approachable whiskey that can be utilized in cocktails but isn't quite complex enough serious bourbon drinkers.
For more whiskey reviews, check out our deep dives into Yamazaki 12, The Macallan 12, and Woodford Reserve.
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| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Inexpensive | A bit too sweet |
Higher 90 proof means more flavor and complexity | Not as good as other affordable bourbons |
Works well in cocktails | Undisclosed mash bill and blend components |
According to Wheatley, a lot of trial and error went into the creation of Traveller Whiskey.
“Once we determined how we wanted the whiskey to taste, we set out on the journey to find the blend of whiskies that satisfied our teams,” he said. “We experimented with more than 50 blends before agreeing that blend number 40 would be the one for Traveller. We believe that what we’ve achieved with Traveller Whiskey not only represents our shared history but also a common artistic vision and uncompromising standards of taste.”
Instead of labeling Traveller a bourbon or rye, Buffalo Trace released it as a blended whiskey.
Martin Fraser; Getty Images
“With the exception of single barrel or single cask whiskeys, nearly every whiskey expression—yes, even straight bourbon–is blended to achieve a desired taste profile,” Wheatley said. “Through Traveller, we seek to elevate the art of blending and its role in making great whiskey, consistently over time.”
Traveller was meant to be an approachable sipper for both seasoned and novice drinkers, which explains why he settled on the whiskey’s particular flavor profile.
“It’s a great change of pace for dyed-in-the-wool whiskey lovers, and a meaningful introduction to whiskey for those hesitant to give it a try," Wheatley said.
As always, drink your whiskey how you like it, no matter the style, proof, or age. But I always recommend starting off with a neat pour just to get to know any whiskey.
At 90 proof, Traveller does have a little bit of heat, but really nothing that requires adding water—unless you prefer it that way.
Wheatley recommends enjoying it over a large ice cube, but also using it in a cocktail called the Lucky Penny. The drink combines Traveller Whiskey, honey syrup, and lemon juice, shaken and poured over ice into a rocks glass.
However, you can go ahead and use it to make an old fashioned or Manhattan if you’d like a sweeter version of those classic drinks.
Jason Kempin; Getty Images
Stapleton is a whiskey drinker and fan, although he doesn’t drink as much as he once did. He wanted to be involved in the creation of this whiskey, so he toured the warehouse with Wheatley to check out barrels.
Ultimately, however, it came down to the master distiller’s palate and blending skill to create this whiskey, which has proven to be very popular.
Related: How to Drink Whiskey Neat
Wheatley tried 50 different blends of whiskey—no neutral grain spirits involved—before deciding on his favorite, the 40th.
The brand is pretty tightlipped about the actual components and how they were aged, but Wheatley had a huge supply of whiskey to choose from at Buffalo Trace and all of its sister distilleries.
Traveller is an ongoing release that's not limited or allocated like some of the other Buffalo Trace whiskeys famously, or infamously, are.
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Basil Hayden bourbon, made at the James B. Beam Distilling Co., is spicier than Traveller because of its high rye mash bill, but it’s always bottled at the minimum 80 proof. That means it’s very accessible and versatile, and a good, relatively inexpensive option for whiskey fans.
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Four Roses is also essentially a blend, as all bourbons are when thinking about barrels. In the case of this particular, distillery, ten different recipes are used for the core bourbon—two mash bills and five different yeast strains. The result is a smooth sipper with a bit of rye spice, perfect for using in any whiskey cocktail.
Related: I've Tried Thousands of Whiskeys. This Cheap Bourbon Is Perfect for Cocktails
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Buffalo Trace is the core bourbon made by the eponymous distiller, and a good counterpoint to Traveller to taste the difference between a blend and a straight bourbon made at the same distillery. Buffalo Trace is a classic, with a palate full of vanilla, caramel, fruit, and toffee notes.
Related: I've Tried Thousands of Whiskeys. This Affordable Bourbon Is a Bartender Favorite
I've written about spirits for numerous publications for a decade. Throughout that time, I've sampled thousands of bottles in every category of spirits, visited distilleries across the world to see how the juice is made, and honed my palate and nose.
I'm also a judge for two spirits competitions, the John Barleycorn Awards and the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, for which I blind taste hundreds of spirits to determine what stands out based on flavor, mouthfeel, color, and aroma.
For this review, I sampled Traveller Whiskey neat, over ice, and in cocktails, and talked to some experts to provide some insight and context about the brand.
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