Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2022 - BTAC 2022 Comprehensive Review
When it comes to collecting allocated bourbon in 2023, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, more commonly known as BTAC, is this year’s most hotly anticipated whiskey release. The 2022 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection represents the collection’s first full run following 2021’s omission of George T. Stagg due to quality constraints, and is set to become the most sought-after set of high-end, premium Kentucky whiskey in some time.
Sourcing, supplying and securing allocated bourbon in 2023 is set to become an even bigger challenge than the last, with demand continuing to skyrocket and the supply of these rare, allocated whiskeys continuing to plateau. BTAC 2021 saw 4 bottles released after it was announced that GTS did not meet BT’s strict quality benchmarks and standards. Compound this omission with the fact that production numbers likely won’t grow until Buffalo Trace Distillery’s capacity increases a few years down the line (following its 2022 expansion), and the pursuit of rare Kentucky whiskeys in 2023 becomes even more competitive and challenging.
Collectors will take some comfort in the knowledge that we will at least have access to an additional bottle in the 2022 BTAC release, with the distillery’s standards met for GTS this year. That means a full run of BTAC that includes Eagle Rare 17 Bourbon, George T. Stagg Bourbon, Sazerac 18 Rye, Thomas H. Handy Rye and William Larue Weller Bourbon, across their three distinctive mash bills. Individually, these whiskeys are liquid gold. Collectively, they become something else entirely - legend, enigmatic and otherworldly, coveted and highly contested - a must-have for collectors in 2023.
Today we take a closer look at the 2022 BTAC release, and what makes each of these limited-edition allocated bourbons so exceptional.
George T. Stagg 2022 Bourbon Review
Not seen since 2020 after Buffalo Trace announced 2021's GTS batch was not up to scratch, George T. Stagg has been impossibly scarce over the last two years. The wait is finally over, however, with 2022's George T. Stagg Bourbon Whiskey finally available. A barrel-proof bourbon aged in charred oak barrels for a minimum of 15 years, George T. Stagg is a formidable, fearsome whiskey and one of the rarest and most sought-after releases in the annual BTAC Collection.
Composed of BT's mash bill #1, the 2022 release is bottled at 138.7-proof and is fast becoming one of the hottest commodities in the whiskey world, no pun intended. Expect fiery heat that offsets a complex profile of burnt toffee, baked cinnamon and tart cherry, as well as rich oak, leather and a warm, lengthy finish. It turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks, with this latest iteration of GTS taking cues from the latest batch of Stagg Jr., with an almost ‘cherry cola’ like undertone that sets it apart, underpinned by hits of sweet vanilla and a thick, syrupy, molasses-like mouthfeel - a 10/10 pour.
William Larue Weller Bourbon 2022 Review
Another truly outstanding bottle of bourbon, WLW has perhaps had the most upside of any of the BTAC releases in recent years, fetching exorbitant amounts due its sheer class and charisma. The 2022 William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is no different, and represents another refined expression of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) caliber.
Bottled at a slightly more muted 124.7 proof, the depth and complexity of 2022 William Larue really shines, not just a full-bodied cask strength beast beholden to barrel-proof aficionados, this year’s bottle dwells on the palate with panache and poise. Caramel and coconut, mint and molasses, rich leather and luscious cherry, the 2022 William Larue is a surprisingly excellent journey between classic bourbon notes and something very unusual and unique from BT - a resounding success and a must-have for connoisseurs.
Eagle Rare 17 Bourbon 2022 Review
Gone are the days when ER17 was a 90-proof warmer, the newly 101-proof bourbon is a roaring success at this higher entry point and has continued its skyrocketing success since this change in 2018. The 2022 iteration of Eagle Rare is a 101-proof classic, a triumphant expression of bourbon that makes up one-fifth of the world's most coveted whiskey collection, BTAC, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
Distilled in the Spring of 2005, aged for a minimum of 17 years in warehouses H, K and L (some of which house the finest Blanton’s), Eagle Rare 17 2022 was matured in new white oak #4 char barrels and double distilled using beer stills. A remarkable mid-to-high-proof bourbon composed of a blend of distiller’s #1 and #2 grade corn, Minnesota rye, and North Dakota Distillers malted barley - expect the cacophonous roar of cherry which intertwines elegantly with salted caramel, faint herbal notes, before a resounding finish arrives with more cherry, oak, and aniseed. Wow.
Sazerac 18 Rye 2022 Review
The oldest BTAC whiskey, the 2022 edition of Sazerac 18 year old Kentucky straight rye is one of the finest offerings from this year’s Antique Collection. Distilled in the Spring of 2003 and 2004 and released in 2022 with a bottled strength of 90-proof, Sazerac 18 is a formidable statement of quality from Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Expect a complete and considered profile, with initial hints of crisp apple, lemon rind, and an earthy, understated herbal essence, which give way to creamy vanilla, more citrus and a rounded-ryed cinnamon. The 2022 Sazerac 18 year old rye whiskey is a must-have for fans of outstanding, aged rye whiskey.
Thomas H. Handy Rye 2022 Review
And what would the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection be without another outstanding iteration of Thomas H. Handy Sazerac straight rye. The 2022 Thomas H Handy is bottled at a barrel proof of 130.9, making it the second sharpest whiskey in the collection behind the powerful and potent 138.7-proof GTS.
Aged for 6 years and 4 months in new white oak #4 char barrels and composed of Minnesota rye, distiller grade #1/#2 Kentucky corn, and North Dakota malted barley, the 2022 Handy is a high-quality expression of BT excellence, with a simple and sophisticated presentation of rye. Distilled in Spring 2016 and double distilled in BTD beer stills, the 2022 Thomas H. Handy boasts a sweetened character with hints of burnt toffee, cinnamon, and earthy rye spice, with lashings of seasoned fruit, candied oak, and baked cinnamon.
Does BTAC 2022 Deserve the Hype?
Collecting allocated whiskey in 2023 is set to be another insurmountable challenge for the collector, but whiskeys of this caliber make the journey beyond worthwhile. With 5 of the most exciting releases in recent years and a full lineup from BTAC in 2022, the collection continues to push boundaries as one of the rarest and most coveted silos in the bourbon whiskey community - an absolute essential for those who love a good pour.
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