I have been drinking whiskey (legally) for 62 years. I am by no means a connoisseur, but I have tried and rejected a goodly number of whiskies. My strong preference is for bourbon and rye whiskies, but I have enjoyed a few Irish and Scotch whiskies. I have yet to meet a blended whiskey that’s worth the price (whether cheap or expensive), but I have bought one that I’m about to try. (More on that in a future post.)

Here, I want to comment on a bourbon that has become so popular that it is sold one to a customer (in-store, not online) at my local Virginia ABC store. (One of the downsides of living in Virginia — one of the few — is that I can’t buy both wine and liquor at the same store.)

Anyway, the bourbon in question is Buffalo Trace, a product of Buffalo Trace Distillery, which is owned by the Sazerac Company. This is from a typical review of Buffalo Trace:

Representing a distillery known for some of bourbon’s most talked about bottles, Buffalo Trace Bourbon feels like it has been carefully created to appeal to every bourbon drinker as an accessible, extremely drinkable, well-balanced pour that is easy to keep coming back to. It may not challenge an experienced drinker, but delivers a full enough flavor to satisfy them nonetheless.

The reviewer is right, Buffalo Trace doesn’t challenge an experienced drinker. It is smooth and flavorful, but it lacks what I call character — a distinctive taste that leaves you with the feeling that you’ve drunk something that is special and worth a frequent visit.

I have neither the budget nor the patience to track down and buy legendary bourbons, like Pappy Van Winkle (also produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery). It and its relatives in the Van Winkle line sell for $1,000 to $5,900 per 750ml bottle, if you can find them.

There are many delicious bourbons — far superior to Buffalo Trace — that are available at less than $100 per 750ml bottle. My current favorite is  Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, which Virginia ABC sells for $60. I usually prefer my whiskey neat, but this one is delicious with an ice cube. Well worth the money if you drink whiskey not for intoxication but for taste.