Elmer T Lee Single Barrel

Description

Elmer T. Lee was one of the great Master Distillers of Buffalo Trace for 36 years, before retiring in 1985 and passing in 2013. As the pioneer of mass produced single barrel bourbons, Elmer was responsible for bringing the first mass produced single barrel for consumers, also known as Blanton’s, to market and was eventually honored by Buffalo Trace with his own single barrel bourbon. This particular single barrel used Buffalo Trace’s #2 mashbill which is a high rye (~15%). Elmer T Lee Single Barrel

• Nose

  slightly fruity with cherries and a light melon note, then come vanilla, caramel and sweet notes of steamed corn. Then it swings into spicy oak notes. however, the fruity sweetness dominates.

• Taste for Elmer T Lee Single Barrel

  Elmer T Lee Bourbon out of the gate is primarily sweet with honey, followed by anise, orange, corn mash, and vanilla. Slightly bitter oak slides-in towards the middle and the end, adding a contrasting darkness. The alcohol stays in-line and adds a moderate burn as a reminder that it’s there.

  “Chewing” provides the same, but slightly stronger honey, anise, vanilla, bitter oak, and orange. It also releases a little more dark cinnamon, cocoa, and clove.

  The mixture of sweetness from the honey, bitterness from the wood, and orange reminds me of an Old Fashioned cocktail, very pleasant and delicious, but stronger. I just wish the flavors were fuller and richer…the ABV robs a lot of what could be in there.

• Finish

  the spicy oak notes as well as vanilla and caramel clearly dominate here. A light chocolate note is paired with the rice notes again.
  There is nothing left of the fruit here.