The latest bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery you should settle for

Those unfamiliar with the world of spirits may be surprised to learn that every bottle of alcohol on a liquor store shelf doesn’t necessarily have a distillery behind it. Rather, many distilleries are large industrial operations that produce different types and iterations of spirits sold under many brands. One of the most touted large-scale distillers is Buffalo Trace, which has been producing bourbon and spirits since 1775, making it one of the oldest distilleries in the country. But influence and pedigree don’t mean every drop of bourbon that leaves its aging homes is equal.

No, Buffalo Trace barrels are intended for several different brands of bourbon and rye, including its namesake bottle, the highly sought-after Pappy Van Winkle whiskeys, and even celebrity-endorsed brands, such as the country superstar’s Traveler Whiskey Chris Stapleton. Tasting Table looked at Buffalo Trace’s extensive portfolio of whiskeys to sort the great from the mediocre and found that Old Charter 8 scraped the bottom of the barrel.

This is not to say that straight Kentucky bourbon is undrinkable; it pairs well in a highball or cocktail. But when tasted solo, Old Charter 8 is hurt by its blandness and subtle flavor, especially compared to other potent bourbons in the Buffalo Trace family. As far as affordable bourbons go, Old Charter is everything it’s cracked up to be, but it’s not a must-have for the connoisseur.

Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

Opinions – and versions – of the old charter vary

Of course, Tasting Table’s is just one opinion, and it should be remembered that Old Charter 8 was compared to its label counterparts and not to all other bourbons. Other tasters sang its praises. At Bourbon Enthusiast, tasters found Old Charter’s nose to be “well balanced” between notes of honey, vanilla and pepper, with a flavor that was “dry and sophisticated” with some spice, caramel and oak. . Adventures in Whiskey finds Old Charter 8 “fairly mild” with a “good medium body.” Spirits Review, however, states that there is “not much” to this bourbon, proclaiming it relatively “disappointing.”

It should be noted that Old Charter 8 is not the only bourbon in the Old Charter line produced by Buffalo Trace. If you like entry-level whiskey, consider some of the older expressions in the Old Charter Oak series. A variety of oak wood is used to make the barrels, and the bourbons are aged for up to 12 years – although whiskey age statements can be confusing – for the French oak expression. Other woods include Canadian Oak, Mongolian Oak, Chinkapin Oak, and Spanish Oak – all of which have earned a spot on our list of the best bourbons of 2023 – each imparting their unique characteristics within the Old Charter.

Read the original article on the tasting table