The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Returns for Its 25th Year, Bringing With It a New Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon

The 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection has arrived. (Photo: Sazerac)

On Wednesday, Kentucky’s Buffalo Trace Distillery unveiled its 25th annual Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, expanded upon for the first time in nearly two decades with a new offering, Colonel E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon.

This year’s collection begins with five bottles that fans know and love from the immensely popular distillery: George T. Stagg bourbon, Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye Whiskey, William Larue Weller bourbon, Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey. Up until now, Handy was the most recent addition to the annual drop, having been added to the collection in 2006.

The introduction of E.H. Taylor BIB adds an extra splash of history to the occasion. Often regarded as the “Father of Modern Bourbon,” Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. is credited with revolutionizing the industry throughout the 19th century, founding the O.F.C. distillery – now Buffalo Trace – in 1869, and championing the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. He was also responsible for introducing a range of then-modern improvements to his distillery, including copper fermentation tanks and steam-heated barrel warehouses.

Sazerac confirmed that Taylor’s namesake bourbon would be added to the 2025 collection in May. Produced using Buffalo Trace’s low-rye recipe, the whiskey is aged 15 years and four months before being bottled at 100 proof. The brand says to expect aromas of warm vanilla, seasoned oak and drizzled maple, followed by flavors of gentle wood, baking spice and a cherry-laden finish.

“Colonel Taylor’s signature graced every bottle produced under his watch as a testament to its quality, a tradition we uphold today as a promise of integrity,” Andrew Duncan, global brand director at Buffalo Trace Distillery, remarked in a news release. “Created in his honor, every sip of E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon offers more than exceptional flavor – it’s a taste of history and reminder of his strict tenets that have safeguarded America’s world-leading whiskey quality standards for nearly 150 years.”

The limited-edition whiskeys are now available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $149.99. A small portion of the collection has been reserved for release through Legacy de Forge, a global auction platform powered by BlockBar.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect from the collection beyond E.H. Taylor:

Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

‍”Bottled at 101 proof in recognition of the original Eagle Rare brand launched in 1975, the Buffalo Trace distillers hand-selected their finest barrels to craft this exceptional whiskey. Aged beyond its 17-year statement – maturing 18 years and 4 months – the 2025 Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon opens on the nose with dark tobacco and well-worn leather, accented by ripe cherry and a lively peppery edge. The palate reveals caramel sweetness intertwined with supple leather and bright cherry notes, while the smooth, resonant finish carries lasting oak, a touch of vanilla, and a gentle echo of sweetness.”

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon

“First introduced in 2002 to meet growing demand for well-aged, barrel-strength bourbon, this year’s George T. Stagg Bourbon was drawn from barrels aged more than 15 years and 4 months. The 2025 release is one of the strongest ever, bottled at 142.8 proof to deliver uncut, unfiltered intensity. Opening with a commanding aroma of deep oak accented by a touch of vanilla, the palate reveals bold vanilla layered with dark tobacco and ripe cherry that leads to a long, earthy finish with notes of tobacco, vanilla, and enduring oak.”

Sazerac 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

“Bottled at 18 years and 5 months and 90 proof, this year’s release opens with bright rye spice on the nose, layered with seasoned oak and a subtle herbaceous lift. The palate delivers a mature balance of spice and oak, accented by woody richness and supple leather, leading to a lingering finish of rye spice, warm leather, caraway seed, and enduring oak.”

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

“This uncut, unfiltered whiskey is crafted from barrels aged over six years and bottled at 129.8 proof, up from last year’s 127.2. On the nose of this year’s Handy, lively oak and spice are lifted by bright fruit and a light apple scent. The palate delivers bold spice and oak balanced with gentle fruit notes, leading to a long, warming finish of oak, vanilla, and spice.”

William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon‍

“The Buffalo Trace distilling team filled the barrels for this year’s release at 114 proof; after 14 years of aging, the whiskey now rests at 129 proof. Uncut and unfiltered, the nose offers layers of vanilla, maple, and tobacco, while the palate balances sweet vanilla with toasted oak. Its long finish carries steady oak and vanilla alongside a touch of ripe fruit.”