Review #467 - Buffalo Trace Single Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Jewelry Fence'

Here we have a single barrel version of the standard Buffalo Trace bourbon - it's still bottled at the usual 45% ABV (90 proof), and we don't have any sort of age statement on the bottle. This pick selected by the Wiseguy Lounge chain of bars; in line with their speakeasy/gangster theme, they named this pick 'Jewelry Fence.'

Buffalo Trace Single Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Jewelry Fence'

USA - Bourbon

Price: USD 35 (2025)

Age Statement: NAS

Strength: 45% ABV

Details: Bottled 2024

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 80% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 10-15 minutes

Nose: Brown sugar and toasted oak greet us at the start - it's baking spice forward, not particularly fruity. The oak has some prickle to it, and there's a soft savory smell hidden behind it. Spice-forward, leaning dry, with some mild leather notes; much later, there's just a hint of acidic purple fruit.

Palate: The mouthfeel is medium thin; tart grape juice brings that Buffalo Trace signature right away, and it almost bridges into a wine flavor, Rose in particular. Pear adds a soft white fruit, and we get some vanilla; generally speaking, sweet and mellow.

Finish: Medium length; the spice side returns in the finish, with mellow oak, some leather, and baking spices: nutmeg and clove, especially.

Final Note: This was an interesting pick of Buffalo Trace, mostly because it seemed a bit disjointed. The nose seemed spicy, as was the finish, but the palate did display that classic Buffalo Trace sweetness and fruit flavor. Not the most balanced barrel, but it was definitely interesting.

Value is solid - honest stores won't overprice these bottles, even if they can sometimes be harder to come by. If you want a sweet, mellow bourbon, Buffalo Trace is a good choice.

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.