Buffalo Trace Mash Bill Chart: Complete Guide (2023)

Last Updated on May 15, 2023 by Lydia Martin

The popularity of Buffalo Trace products in the last decades has played a major role in bringing numerous new drinkers to the whiskey world. 

The Buffalo Trace products, over numerous brands, use one of the brand’s mash bills, although the exact ratios are not disclosed to the public. 

Let’s explore the Buffalo Trace mash bill chart. Read on.  

Buffalo Trace Bourbon Mash Bills 

Bourbon Mash Bill #1

The Buffalo Trace Bourbon Mash Bill #1 is the most common Buffalo Trace and is referred to as a “low rye bourbon mash bill.”

Overall, the bourbon mash bill one features less than 10 percent rye. 

Bourbon Mash Bill #1 is widely used by value brands like the flagship Buffalo Trace, E.H. Taylor, George Stagg, and many more. 

The brands share the same mash bill separated by maturation and aging techniques. Many frequently cite it as BT’s house flavor profile. 

Bourbon Mash Bill #2

The Buffalo Trace Bourbon Mash Bill #2 is known to be “high rye bourbon” by many BT fans.  

It can be misleading as it only contains about 12-15 percent rye since the terminology “high rye” is often mentioned for whiskeys with more than 20 percent rye. 

However, it is an odd distinction in several Buffalo Trace bourbon brands with higher rye content than the Bourbon Mash Bill #1. 

Some highly coveted bottles, like Elmer T. Lee and Blanton’s Single Barrel, use the specific mash bill but differ in the maturation process. 

Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill

The Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill is the most delectable Buffalo Trace mash bill as the brand changes the rye in the recipe with a portion of wheat. 

While the exact ratio of the wheated bourbon is not disclosed, since it does not contain rye on its mash bill, it is known to be more smooth, crowd-pleasing, and sweet. 

The Wheated BourbonMash Bill is used to craft the popular Pappy Van Winkle and W.L. Weller, which are wheated bourbons. 

“Pappy has been an outstanding brand for us..the demand is bound to grow because people want quality for their money” Distiller. 

– Harlen Wheatley, Master

Some of the wheated bourbons by Buffalo Trace belong to the bottom shelf selection, but in an attempt by the drinkers to taste the Pappy Van, it commands outrageous prices. 

Rye Whiskey Mash Bill

Buffalo Trace Rye Whiskey grain recipe should be at least 51% rye [1] which is a bit similar to traditional Kentucky distillers like Heaven Hill and Jim Beam, as the law requires. 

The rye mash bill ratio of Buffalo Trace is not disclosed.

Still, it is used in crafting rye whiskeys like Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye and Sazerac Rye but separated by maturation, age, and proof. 

In recent years, rye whiskeys have become bolder and spicier, with 90% or more rye, but this mash bill ratio remains in the traditional, older style crafted by Kentucky stalwarts. 

“High Rye” Whiskey Mash Bill

The final and often forgotten fifth mash bill is the High Rye Whiskey Mash Bill, which is exclusively used for E.H. Taylor Straight Rye.

The high rye whiskey mash bill does not contain corn and is exclusively made from malted barley and rye. 

It is unusual for a Kentucky bourbon distillery to use almost 95% rye, but Buffalo Trace seems to be slowly accepting and giving interest in what modern distilleries do. 

Buffalo Trace Mash Bill Content Chart 

Mash Bill Recipe	Corn	Rye	Wheat	Malted Barley
Mash Bill #1	Yes, But Undisclosed	<10%	–	Yes, But Undisclosed
Mash Bill #2	Yes, But Undisclosed	12-15%	–	Yes, But Undisclosed
Wheated Bourbon	Yes, But Undisclosed	–	16-18%	Yes, But Undisclosed
Rye Whiskey	Yes, But Undisclosed	>51%	–	Yes, But Undisclosed
High Rye	–	>51%	–	Yes, But Undisclosed

Various Brands And Their Buffalo Trace Mash Bills 

Mash Bill #1

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Buffalo Trace White Dog Mash #1
• Eagle Rare
• E.H. Taylor Bottled in Bond Series
• E.H. Taylor Bottled in Bond Series
• Old Charter 8
• Benchmark Old No. 8 Bourbon
• Stagg Jr.
• Eagle Rare 17 Year Old
• George T. Stagg

Mash Bill #2

• Ancient Age
• Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
• Hancock’s President’s Reserve
• Rock Hill Farms Bourbon
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon

Wheated Bourbon

• Pappy Van Winkle
• William Larue Weller
• W.L. Weller Series

Rye Whiskey

• Sazerac Rye
• Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye
• Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye
• Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year Old

High Rye

• E.H. Taylor Straight Rye Whiskey

FAQs 

In Summary

Buffalo Trace does not disclose the exact mash bill ratio of their products, but it is good to know in the Buffalo Trace mash bill chart the main ingredients responsible for the amazing tasting notes of the products. 

Also, the chart shows that even though Buffalo Trace uses similar mash bill recipes on their products, the aging, proof, and maturation techniques bring completely different tastes. 

References:

1. https://www.seriouseats.com/guide-to-rye-whiskey-cocktail-101-basics-what-is-rye-how-is-it-made-brands 
2.  https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/5-rules-that-make-it-bourbon.html