Everybody has a go-to bourbon, but sometimes, whether by choice or by limited selection at the liquor store, a backup bottle is needed. A fairly reliable shelf staple in most markets, Buffalo Trace bourbon has long held its status among the most dependably affordable and versatile whiskeys out there: a proper sipping bourbon that holds up just fine in a cocktail and keeps its proof at an easy-drinking 90.
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But what to do in those situations where, for whatever reason, Buffalo Trace isn’t available? (Anecdotally, it can be surprisingly hard to find in some places.) In those cases, you’ll want a bourbon similar to Buffalo Trace but … different. We’ve put together three alternative whiskeys that each scratch a different itch. There’s the “Older Brother,” aged slightly longer from the same mashbill for a similar taste profile. There’s the “Next Best Thing,” a similarly-priced competitor from another distillery that nonetheless fills the same niche as Buffalo Trace in terms of being a 90-proof versatile easy-sipper. And then there’s the “Mystery Bottle,” a high-end single-barrel standout from Buffalo Trace Distillery for special occasions.
Here’s what to reach for if Buffalo Trace isn’t on the shelf or it’s come time to branch out.
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The Older Brother
DrizlyEagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon
- Market Price: $50 – $100
- Proof: 90
Eagle Rare is made by the Buffalo Trace Distillery using the same low-rye recipe as Buffalo Trace bourbon and it’s cut to match the familiar 90 proof. What’s different? Where Buffalo Trace is aged at least eight years, Eagle Rare is aged at least 10. Those extra two years maturing in the barrel make for whiskey with far more barrel characteristics, a slightly fattier body and loads more vanilla and spice notes. If you want a slightly upgraded sipping whiskey for not a whole lot more cash, Eagle Rare is the move.
