Don’t Want to Shell Out the Cash for the 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection? Buy These 5 Excellent (and Much Cheaper) Whiskeys Instead
The 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection landed last month with its five epic whiskeys that collectors dream about and search high and low for.
With demand far outweighing supply, Buffalo Trace’s Thomas H. Handy, Eagle Rare, George T. Stagg, Sazerac and William Larue Weller expressions are incredibly difficult to track down each year.
If you find yourself struggling to score these whiskeys from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection because they’re hard to find, or maybe you want to spend your cash on other things like, you know, a mortgage — don’t sweat.
We’ve got your back with some whiskeys you can buy instead. After touching briefly on this year’s Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, we’ll share our recommendations for substitutes if you can’t find the real thing.
The 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection In A Nutshell
Each year, Buffalo Trace releases its highly coveted Antique Collection featuring the same lineup of its “big five” whiskeys. Though the whiskeys are usually consistent, age statements may vary each year.
2021 was a notable year as the brand opted out of including its George T. Stagg expression because it did not meet the distillery’s standards.
2023 appears to be the year for Eagle Rare fans, as this year’s lineup contains the oldest expression from the distillery’s collection yet — one that clocks in at 19 years and 3 months.
If you’re curious to hear how this year’s Antique Collection measured up, check out our reviews here.
In October, Whiskey Raiders Chief Spirits Critic Jay West ranked the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and you can check out his thoughts on the collection below:
The Five Whiskeys To Buy Instead
Can’t Find George T. Stagg Bourbon?
Read Our Review
If you can’t find George T. Stagg, consider picking up a bottle of K.LUKE Small Batch Barrel Strength Batch 5.
K.LUKE is what VinePair touts as a sleeper bourbon brand that could very well be one of tomorrow’s unicorns. Sure, K.LUKE isn’t cheap, but that’s because it doesn’t need to be. And compared to GTS on the secondary? K.LUKE is pretty affordable, at about $115.
The brand is helmed by Jonathan and Jennifer Maisano, who tasted thousands of barrels before creating their own indie bourbon brand in 2021. West recommends K.LUKE’s small-batch, barrel-strength bourbon, which “matches George T. Stagg pound for pound on baking spice, oak and big dessert character.”
Can’t Find Thomas H. Handy Rye?
Read Our Review
So you’ve searched high and low for a bottle of Thomas H. Handy but can’t seem to get ahold of one. Don’t worry, the folks at Barrell Craft Spirits have got you covered with Barrell Rye.
This big, bad and bold rye is what West touts as one of Barrell’s best releases in years as far as rye is concerned. With a price of $85, Barrell Rye Batch 004 is pretty darn easy to find, and you can purchase it directly from Barrell Craft Spirits.
With plenty of cracked pepper spice interwoven with lusciously sweet caramel, this rye can easily go toe-to-toe with some of the greatest rye whiskeys we’ve tasted in 2023.
Can’t Find Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon?
Read Our Reviews
All that beautiful fruit and oak in this year’s Eagle Rare is admittedly tough to replicate. If you want to re-capture those aromas, look no further than any of James B. Beam’s Hardin’s Creek Kentucky Series expressions that released this year.
These releases may be a bit tricky to find, as well, but the hunt will be nothing next to the one surrounding BTAC. With a bit of motivation, you should be able to snag one of the Frankfort, Clermont or Boston expressions, and since there are three of them, you’ll have triple the chances. All of these expressions host an MSRP of $170, and all three whiskeys earned a score of 8/10 on Whiskey Raiders, which is no easy feat.
All of Hardin’s Creek Kentucky Series bourbons are made the same way and aged for 17 years. The only differentiating factor among them? Location. Each was aged at a different Beam Kentucky facility. These beautifully fruity and oaky bourbons have that Eagle Rare essence, and are gems in their own right.
Can’t Find Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye?
Read Our Review
The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2023’s Sazerac 18 yr is all about two things: fruit and spice. Our search for an easier-to-find replacement took us to Canada of all places.
Found North Cask Strength Rye is a Canadian brand that produces distinctive, non-chill-filtered whiskeys. Any of its batches are excellent, but we’re particularly fond of Batch 003, which clocks in at 110.2 proof and has a mashbill of 64% rye, 32% corn and 4% malted barley. The expression hosts a suggested price of $135 and can be purchased from the brand directly.
This 5-whisky blend features the following components: an 18-year-old rye aged in ex-tequila barrels, an 18-year-old rye aged in ex-Speyside scotch casks, a 21-year-old corn whisky aged in used American oak, and a pair of corn whiskies (one 17 years old, one 25) aged in Hungarian oak. This complex spirit may not be the first substitution you’d expect while looking for a Sazerac 18 dupe, but with its fruit, spice and similar age, we’d say it’s right on the money.
Can’t Find William Larue Weller Bourbon?
Read Our Review
Wheated bourbon lovers, don’t fret. If a bottle of William Larue Weller isn’t in the cards for you this year, look no further than Old Elk Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon.
This offering from Old Elk is aged longer than our usual favorite William Larue Weller Dupe, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength (which also works.)
Old Elk’s Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon hosts an ABV of 46% and is a decadent, dessert-forward and creamy wheated bourbon — a perfect substitute for William Larue Weller. Folks looking to pick up a bottle can find one for $64 on Total Wine.
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