The Kentucky straight bourbon has been distilled with a proportion of peated malt in the mash mill. It was aged for almost a decade in charred new oak casks before being bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV).
It is the 26th release in the Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection, which debuted in 2006 and explores the possibilities of the distillery's whiskey through tweaks to the mash bills, types of wood, and barrel treatment.
Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace's master distiller, said: "The Experimental Collection is not about breaking the rules of bourbon; in fact, 95 per cent of our experiments stay within the confines of traditional methods of making whiskey. We conduct this research to better understand the variables that affect our final flavour profiles.
"We were eager to experiment with peat to see how the grain influenced our mash bill from a recipe perspective. We anticipated it providing the perfect hint of smoke, just enough to complement the sweet and spicy notes from the rye, and I’m happy to report our hypothesis was correct."
Buffalo Trace Experimental Peated Bourbon will be rolling out to select retailers and restaurants across the United States from May 2023. The suggested retail price is US$46.99 per 375ml bottle.