About Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection brings together a selection of rare, hand-selected whiskeys that showcase the artistry, patience and dedication of Buffalo Trace’s master distillers. For collectors, connoisseurs and enthusiasts, the Antique Collection is more than a series of bottles, it’s an invitation to experience bourbon at its most exceptional.
Introduced over two decades ago, the Antique Collection comprises six whiskeys released each fall: George T. Stagg Bourbon, William Larue Weller Bourbon, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye, Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Bourbon, Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old and beginning in 2025, E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon.
GEORGE T. STAGG
George Thomas Stagg was a visionary of the post–Civil War bourbon industry, rising from whiskey salesman to co-owner and leader of the O.F.C. (Old Fire Copper) Distillery.
Under his guidance in the late 1800s, the distillery modernized operations, expanded its reach and established a reputation for excellence that still endures. His influence was so profound that in 1904, more than a decade after his death, the distillery was renamed the George T. Stagg Distillery in his honor.
His commitment to innovation, quality and forward-thinking infrastructure continues to define the character of the George T. Stagg bourbon brand today.
WILLIAM LARUE WELLER
Born in 1825, he developed the brand’s signature wheated bourbon recipe, substituting wheat for rye to achieve a gentler, smoother bourbon. He promoted his bourbon, sold “Honest Whiskey at an Honest Price,” and ensured quality (e.g. marking barrels) to maintain trust. His legacy continues in every expression bearing his name.
THOMAS H. HANDY SAZERAC
Thomas H. Handy (1839–1893) was a New Orleans entrepreneur who transformed the Sazerac House from a local bar into a spirits empire. Starting as a clerk, he became the owner in 1869 and later secured U.S. distribution rights for Sazerac de Forge et Fils Cognac. When cognac supplies waned, Handy championed American rye whiskey as the base for the Sazerac cocktail helping define one of America’s first classic drinks. His legacy endures through the Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey, crafted at Buffalo Trace Distillery in tribute to his pioneering spirit.
COLONEL EDMUND HAYNES TAYLOR, JR.
Known as the father of the modern bourbon industry, Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. left an indelible mark. After the Civil War, he established the O.F.C. Distillery, now known as Buffalo Trace, where we make E.H. Taylor whiskies today. During his storied career, he fought for Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 and revolutionized the industry with methods still in use today like copper fermenters, column stills and climate-controlled aging warehouses. E.H. Taylor’s straight Kentucky whiskies are made in recognition of the Colonel’s uncompromising dedication to great bourbon.
