CLEVELAND, Ohio — Whiskey drinkers who wonder what it was like to sneak a drink during the age of Prohibition can get a taste of the experience thanks to Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Buffalo Trace has released a limited-edition collection to honor whiskeys that were legally sold at its distillery, then known as the George T. Stagg Distillery, during Prohibition. The Prohibition collection pays homage to five brands that were popular at the time but have since disappeared.
There were six total distilleries that were legally allowed to produce alcohol for medicinal purposes from 1920 to 1933. One was George T. Stagg, now Buffalo Trace. The other five no longer exist — Old Stagg, Golden Wedding, Three Feathers, Walnut Hill, and George T. Stagg Spiritus Frumenti. Today, Buffalo Trace as a brand releases popular whiskeys like Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, W.L. Weller, and Sazerac Rye.
Buffalo Trace’s Prohibition Collection features five bottles, one for each historic brand, and many of them are bottled at a higher-than-average proof. The Old Stagg bottle is barrel-proof, containing about 66.2% ABV, and totally unfiltered. It has noticeable notes of oak, vanilla, and leather while maintaining plenty of character from its time spent in the barrel.
Golden Wedding is a 107-proof rye whiskey, which contains 53.5% ABV, with classic notes of pepper and herbs. It was originally distilled in Pennsylvania before moving to Canada and becoming a Canadian whiskey in the 1940s.
Three Feathers is bottled-in-bond and clocks in at 100 proof, for 50% ABV, that was originally marketed as a top-shelf rye in the early 1800s. The recreation honors its transformation into a bonded and blended whiskey with a complex flavor balance of smokey oak and sweet fruit.
Walnut Hill was originally bottled at the Geroge T. Stagg Distillery, and its recreation pays homage to its history. The 90-proof, or 45% ABV, bottle has a high rye content, making it slightly spicy and earthy.
The final bottle is the George T. Stagg Distillery Spiritus Frumenti, a 110-proof, or 55% ABV, wheated bourbon. The bottle is a callback to the distillery’s medicinal offerings during prohibition. Despite being originally marketed as medicine, the flavor notes are strong with caramel, vanilla, oak, and fruit notes for a well-rounded bottle.
For more information please visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/