High fidelity blend: Traveller Whiskey
Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Chris Stapleton has teamed up again with Harlen Wheatley, the master distiller of Buffalo Trace Distillery, to amp up the volume of Traveller Whiskey.
Launched in January 2024, Traveller Whiskey Blend No.40 is the result of ‘first-of-a-kind’ collaborative artistry, inspired by Stapleton’s passion for whiskey, and blended and bottled at Sazerac’s award-winning distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, under the supervision of Wheatley.
Much like music, the pair views whiskey blending as an art form – an intentional process that depends on expertise, balance, and creativity, with experimentation as a source of inspiration.
Traveller Whiskey Full Proof, unveiled in February 2026, marks an evolution of the original expression.
The first line extension for the brand turns up the ABV from 45% (90 proof) to 60.5% (121 proof), delivering amplified intensity while maintaining the balanced, ‘easy-sipping’ versatility that defines Traveller’s signature style.
Born out of curiosity about how far they could push Traveller’s signature ABV without compromising its gentle and soft character, the duo began experimenting with various blending adjustments and techniques. The breakthrough moment occurred during a backstage tasting, when Stapleton and his band unanimously agreed that the higher-ABV expression they had selected captured something special.
“Prior to collaborating with Harlen Wheatley and Buffalo Trace Distillery on Traveller Whiskey, I generally leaned toward higher-proof and barrel-strength bottles,” Stapleton shares. “Needless to say, when we decided to experiment with a higher-proof expression, I was excited to see where that could land.
“One night after a show, we had two potential Full Proof contenders backstage with the band and some friends. Everyone agreed 121 proof was the clear winner. It’s the same easy-to-drink DNA, just turned up a few notches. I think Traveller Whiskey Full Proof is one of those moments where more of a good thing is definitely a good thing.”
Building on the smooth, approachable foundation of Blend No.40, the whiskey offers a rich flavour profile, featuring prominent notes of caramelised sugar, baking spices, and toasted oak – enhanced by hints of vanilla, warm toffee, and dark fruit. The result is an expression that showcases the skill involved in American whiskey blending, created to change expectations on what blends can achieve.
Wheatley comments: “Across our products, we like to experiment with proof as a way to bring out different flavour characteristics already present in the whiskey.
“When we started experimenting with proof in Traveller’s blended recipe, flavours and finishes came to the forefront that aren’t as apparent in the 90-proof blend. It’s remarkable how different the blended recipe responds to proof variation compared to our straight Bourbons. We think where we’ve landed is a completely unique offering that every whiskey drinker should try.”
Traveller Full Proof, initially launched as a limited release, is now available to retailers, bars, and restaurants nationwide in the US through Sazerac’s distributor network at a suggested retail price of US$39.99.
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