Bourbon Dose

What is a good price for the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)? How much is it worth?

This is part part of a holidays series where we look at bourbon, the price of popular bourbon, and how much you should pay for it in the 2023 holiday season without getting ripped off.

What is a good price for Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Bourbons?

According to the crowd-sourced BoozApp, here’s what you should pay for the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection:

• Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (750 mL): MSRP $99.50, Fair Price $515.82, High Price above $700.00.
• George T. Staff (750 mL): MSRP $99.50, Fair Price: $413.05, High Price above $709.65
• William Larue Weller (750 mL): MSRP $99.50, Fair Price: $567.35, High Price above 1296.96
• Eagle Rare 17 Year (750 mL): MSRP $99.50, Fair Price $480.36, High Price above $1998.89
• Sazerac Rye 18 Year (750 mL): MSRP $99.50, Fair Price $422.69, High Price above $1765.87

What is the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection?

The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) is an annually released, five-bottle collection of hard-to-find bourbon and rye whiskeys. Each of the five is unique, varying by mash, maturation length, or proof. The distillery releases the collection every fall, and each bottle is regarded among the most sought-after and hard-to-find bourbons on the market.

The BTAC includes the following :

George T. Stagg Bourbon: Made with Buffalo Trace’s Mashbill #1, it’s a barrel-proof bourbon whiskey aged for at least 15 years.

Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon: Also made with Buffalo Trace’s Mashbill #1. This is effectively classic Eagle Rare that’s a little longer in the tooth.

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey: An uncut, unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey, named after the New Orleans bartender who first used rye whiskey in the Sazerac Cocktail, offering a powerful, lush, and boldly spicy flavor profile.

Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Whiskey: Aged for 18 years, this whiskey offers a unique taste profile, with Buffalo Trace halting its aging by decanting the whiskey into stainless steel tanks.

William Larue Weller Bourbon: The original wheated bourbon, substituting wheat for rye grain, aged on the highest warehouse floors for a smooth, yet full-bodied taste.

Read our tasting notes and more info on each of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection bourbons here.

Why is BTAC So Hard To Find?

Due to the limited number of bottles produced every year, the Antique Collection isn’t easy to get a hold of. Since 2018, Buffalo Trace has kept the number of bottles produced a closely-guarded secret. The entire collection is allocated, which means that liquor stores, bars, and restaurants can only acquire a small amount at a time.

These bottles are also highly-desired, and regarded as the best-in-class for bourbon. Because of their collectability, they’ve become a prime prize for whiskey taters.

Where can I find Bourbons In The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection?

The limited-edition Antique Collection bottles are sold separately and are usually available at retail in early October. While the MSRP tends to be around ~$100, buyers will be hard-pressed to find any of these bottles for < $500.

The best place to actually land one of these bottles is through a lottery, at a grocery store (not a package store, and where state laws are applicable), or through a promotion.

Finding these bottles can be a challenge due to their limited availability and high demand. It’s recommended to check with local liquor stores, bars, and restaurants, as they may receive a small allocation of the collection in the fall every year.

Please note that the availability of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection may vary depending on your location and the specific regulations of your state.

Happy hunting!