Buffalo Trace releases eighth Single Oak Project

Buffalo Trace Distillery is halfway through its Single Oak Project experiments to find the perfect Bourbon with the release of its eighth bottling.

The latest release has focused on three variables – the recipe, wood grain size and tree cut – while keeping all other variables constant. Every Bourbon that makes up this release entered the barrel at 105 proof (52.5% abv), aged within the wooden confines of Warehouse K, with a number 4 barrel char after the staves had been seasoned for 12 months.

Buffalo Trace Distillery started the Single Oak Project in 1999 by handpicking 96 trees with different wood grains before dividing them into a top and bottom piece, which produced 192 unique sections.

Each tree section was turned into a stave and air-dried for either 6 or 12 months before being turned into a single barrel. Each barrel was then given either a number three or four char and filled with either wheat or rye recipe Bourbon.

Bourbon marketing director Kris Comstock said: “Many people will find this release interesting since the entry proof is 105 this round – which some fans contend is better. Bourbon drinkers can taste and decide if they like wheated or rye recipe Bourbon better at the 105 entry proof.”

From 2011 until 2015, a series of the Single Oak Project Bourbon will be released every three months until all 192 barrels have been released. The eighth release will hit stores by the end of February.

To date, more than 2,221 industry expert and consumer reviews have been registered online at www.singleoakproject.com which will ultimately determine which Single Oak Project Bourbon is the favourite.

At the end of the experiment in 2015, Buffalo Trace Distillery plans to take the top rated Single Oak Project and produce more of the chosen whiskey.

With two years to go until the end of the project, barrel 106 is currently the favourite having knocked barrel 97 from the top spot. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle at a suggested RRP of US$46.35.