On Monday, Buffalo Trace Distillery announced the release of Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition, the first uncut and unfiltered expression of the esteemed single barrel bourbon.
The bottle’s rollout comes alongside the launch of the distillery’s new bottle drawing system, which was developed to make limited-edition releases accessible to more visitors. Interested customers can register for the inaugural Buffalo Trace Bottle Draw from Sept. 15 through Sept. 17, and the Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition will be available at the Frankfort, Ky., distillery exclusively for customers chosen in the lottery. On Sept. 22, a third-party partner will select names at random, who will then be able to purchase the bourbon onsite from Sept. 28 through Oct. 11.
As the name suggests, the new bourbon marks the 40th anniversary of Elmer T. Lee, a label designed to honor the former Buffalo Trace master distiller who changed the American whiskey landscape by releasing the first-ever single barrel bourbon in 1984. Buffalo Trace inaugurated the line with Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon in 1986 and has been rolling out limited-edition whiskies under the label in the four decades since.
“For the first time, we’re sharing Elmer T. Lee Bourbon exactly as it comes from the barrel,” Erica Bovard, senior brand director of American Whiskey at Sazerac stated in a release. “By offering it uncut and unfiltered, we’re able to highlight the depth and character of the whiskey while staying true to the standards Elmer set.”
Brand tasting notes highlight dried fruit, nuts, and baking spice on a rich, full-bodied palate. The finish lingers with notes of crème brûlée and toasted oak.
The lineup’s first-ever uncut and unfiltered bourbon was bottled at proofs ranging from 124.8 to 138.6. It comes at a suggested retail price of $99.99.
