Buffalo Trace fans, hear ye hear ye! The esteemed distiller has released the second run of the much-vaunted Prohibition Collection, which includes expressions from five extinct names!

Why are the whiskies extinct? Well, this year's release aims to celebrate the whiskeys legally produced and sold at the distillery during Prohibition. As we all know, Prohibition outlawed the production and sale of most alcoholic beverages in the United States. However, few know that purchasing alcohol was permitted only with a medical prescription, and only six distilleries were granted licenses by the U.S. Government to bottle "medicinal" whiskey. Buffalo Trace Distillery, as it's known today, was one of these select distilleries.

This year's set consists of: Mirror Brook, Very Oldest Procurable, Anderson’s Belle, Old Fashioned Mountain Corn and Silver Wedding Rye Whiskey.

The renowned Bourbon producer has also collaborated with a Scandinavian Tobacco Group to unveil a limited-edition collection of five distinct cigar blends, each meticulously crafted to complement the brand's signature whiskeys. Only 750 elegantly packaged boxes, mirroring the design of the bourbon collection, will be made available.

This isn't the distillery's first foray into the past, either. The first release of the Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection dropped in September 2023, honoring another five brands that had been lost to time.

The set of five 375-milliliter bottles (housed in a wooden case) has a price of USD$999.99 from the brand.

The Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection #2 will be released in limited drops through Sazerac’s distributors to specialised retailers and bars through January.

This year's pickings include:

1. Mirror Brook

At 50% ABV and bottled in bond, records mentioning this whiskey date back to 1932. Recognising the need to update the outdated pre-Prohibition labels on his 1919-made O.F.C. whiskey, former distillery president Albert Blanton made the decision in 1932 to have these bottles rebottled under the new 'Mirror Brook' brand name.

The distillery said to anticipate a full measure of red fruit aromas like cherries, coupled with vanilla cream and an oak spine on the palate. There's also a finish of chocolate rye spice.

2. Very Oldest Procurable

The Very Oldest Procurable (V.O.P) was another brand bottled by the distillery during Prohibition. Albert Blanton also registered V.O.P. with the government to be bottled for medicinal purposes. Notably, it was bottled but not owned by the distillery back then.

A barrel-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it is said to have an intense rye spice balanced by toasted oak, vanilla, and rich cherry notes that develop mid-tasting. The finish is warm with sweet honey, oak and rye spice notes.

3. Anderson’s Belle

Also at 50% ABV, this expression is a bottled-in-bond wheated bourbon that is not to be confused with the Belle of Anderson whiskey brand.

Oddly enough, the distillery knows not of the backstory of this whiskey, except that it simply existed. On the nose, this expression apparently has caramel and maple notes with some charred oak and rich sweet vanilla.

It also has robust oak and subtle dried fruit undertones that round out its sweet, warm wheat character.

4. Old Fashioned Mountain Corn

At 50.5% ABV, all we know is that this expression was once produced and bottled by the distillery. The tagline on the bottle “Made in the Heart of the Bluegrass,” is known to have appeared on many other Prohibition-era bottles.

It is said that there's (obvious, really) a rich corn sweetness in this expression along with toasted oak and rich caramel. The finish is warm, with the oak flavor lingering as the sweet corn carries through.

5. Silver Wedding Rye Whiskey

Initially crafted under Blanton's guidance in Midway, Kentucky, this limited-edition whiskey commemorated a 25-year milestone (which was followed by Golden Wedding Rye Whiskey's 50th-anniversary celebration).

A short-lived release, it was subsequently replaced by Silver Wedding Gin and frequently enjoyed alongside Golden Wedding Rye Whiskey at public gatherings.

At a substantial 60.25% ABV, this expression is said to have notes of vanilla, coffee with cream, leather earthiness, oak and rye spice on the palate. The finish is a lingering one, with rye spice alongside gentle vanilla and oak.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team