Review #466 - Buffalo Trace Single Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Assassin'

Due to the demand of Buffalo Trace bourbon products, even the standard 'Buffalo Trace' Kentucky Straight Bourbon has been hard to find in a lot of places in recent years. That's beginning to ease up with increased production and a mild slowdown in the whisky market, but in some markets, this still flies off of the shelves.

Some stores and bars get the chance to do single barrel picks with the distillery, though - The Wiseguy Lounge, a speakeasy-style bar with locations in the Midwest US, is one of those. Here's an example of their Buffalo Trace store pick, which is still bottled at the standard 45% ABV (90 proof) - they've named the bottling 'Assassin.'

Buffalo Trace Single Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Assassin'

USA - Bourbon

Price: USD 35 (2025)

Age Statement: NAS

Strength: 45% ABV

Details: Bottled 2024

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 90% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 10-15 minutes

Nose: Subtle dark fruit notes - prunes, cherry licorice, a bit of orange. There's a sweeter side brought by scents of caramel, and the oak is quite mellow; that oak brings an occasional savory smell, too.

Palate: The mouthfeel has a medium thickness. Vanilla and grape skins combine for some sweetness, but overall, this palate is more dry than the nose. Nutmeg, pepper, and some musty oak combine for a bit of spice.

Finish: That oak spice continues, and there's also a soft alcohol note in the finish. Black pepper and clove are balanced by caramel and a mild grape soda aftertaste; it's a medium length finish.

Final Note: This single barrel variant of Buffalo Trace is fine - roughly on par with the standard batched bottling. We like those subtle dark fruit notes that the distillery is known for - those showed here, but they weren't overwhelming. There was decent balance overall, with a mix of sweet and spicy flavor; it's a slightly simple whisky, but you expect that at this proof point and price bracket.

Value is decent - Buffalo Trace in its standard form is above average value if you can find it for a fair price around the MSRP of $25 to $30, and this single barrel style follows that same trend. The single barrel versions occasionally come with a small markup, depending on the store, but value is still pretty good.

Our Average Rating: 6.0 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 7.34

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.