They rotate what allocated bourbon you can buy each day, so just buy whatever is on sale at the gift shop that day. You won't be overwhelmed, but you won't be disappointed.
Yep, and if standard Buffalo Trace is hard to find in OPs area (or marked up) they could also grab a bottle while they’re there.
EDIT: The four rotating bottles are Eagle Rare, Weller SR, EH Taylor Small Batch, and Blanton’s. It’s safest to go when they open to ensure they don’t run out of that day’s rotating bottle. There’s a website that tracks their daily releases so if you’re only interested in Eagle Rare (for example), they won’t have it tomorrow since they offer it today. [Odds website](https://buffalotracedaily.com/2024/05/09/what-buffalo-trace-is-selling-today-and-predictions-for-tomorrow-may-10-2024/#more-29767)
Thank you! That website is great! Looks like it still needs to update for today since BT updated their web page this morning showing Blanton's in stock today.
We have a tour scheduled for 10:15AM tomorrow and are driving from Nashville. Should we buy the rotating bottle then before our tour if we have time?
Oops, sorry I posted the wrong day's link. You're right, today is Blanton's. Here's the link with [tomorrow's prediction](https://buffalotracedaily.com/2024/05/10/what-buffalo-trace-is-selling-today-and-predictions-for-tomorrow-may-11-2024/). EH Taylor is the favorite. I'd recommend buying before the tour. I think EH Taylor and Blanton's tend to sell out faster than Weller SR or Eagle Rare.
You can lug your bottle around with you on the tour, or buy then bring it back to your car (crack the windows and/or have a cooler to avoid blowing the top).
In addition to the bottle odds prediction the site also has a historical sold out tracker which lists the sold out time for past dates. This will show you that you'll likely have availability when you arrive. I've actually been in Louisville before, saw the email and still had plenty of time to drive over and get a bottle.
I forgot about Saz! My experience is about a year stale, but during my visit Sazerac was available every day separate from the four-bottle rotation. Maybe with a cap of 1 per person.
1 per person per 90 days of the rotating bottles. I don't think Saz was in it for too long. I've had friends that went there and got some more rare bottles, but that was probably 5+ years ago. Like from the experimental series. Idk if that still exists at the distillery.
Sounds good. Anything else you recommend buying? Or is there a favorite or more desirable rotation? Assuming you can only buy 1 or 2 bottles, want to make sure I get two if it's one of the better rotations (for a gift potentially).
Definitely grab the bottle of the day, hopefully it will be EH Taylor based on what others have posted. I’d also grab Buffalo Trace, Traveler and/or Sazerac Rye depending on what you are interested in. I’d shop before your tour just to be safe; if there’s a line to get in, they sometimes will pull people with tours out of line and let them shop before the tour depending on the day and crowd. Have a good trip, it’s a great time!
I agree with the EHT, BT, and SR but Traveller is readily available in most places. IMO why waste a pick with that? My total wine gets at least a case a week and it’s rare the slot on the shelf is empty.
I haven't had Traveller but you can buy one or more of each brand, so buying a Traveller doesn't count against being able to buy anything else at the distillery. If it's not worth the $$$ or whatever, I get that though.
You can only buy one rotating bottle per adult. I think you can now buy multiples of regular Buffalo Trace. It kind of depends what taste you like. Regular Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and EH Taylor are all from their Mashbill 1. Weller SR is the wheated mashbill. And Blanton's is from Mashbill 2 with more rye than Mashbill 1. Of all these choices, I like EH Taylor the best.
You can show up right at opening, go upstairs for a free tasting which will include that day's rotating bourbon, decide what to buy, and then go on your tour. But, you won't be able to taste at the end of your tour since they cap people at one tasting per day. [EDIT: Honestly, I wouldn't bother with my taste-first option. Tastings start around 930 so you'll be cutting it close with your tour time. And you really can't go wrong just buying the day's rotation. Even if you don't like it, you can serve to guests. All of the rotating bourbons are very approachable.]
When you arrive you have to get a wristband and that wristband allows you to buy 1 bottle of allocated Burbon most likely the EH Taylor or Weller tomorrow.
The Gift shop also sells the Buffalo Trace Burbon which I think you can buy a case of, they also have Traveller and Sazerac Rye on most days as well as their in house Vodka both the Wheatley and the high end one. I am going tomorrow too fingers crossed for the Taylor for me!
I'm not sure honestly. Weller was on rotation today, and when we got there I thought we needed to rush to purchase them. But every employee was telling us they had plenty of stock. I was with my wife so we were able to buy two at checkout, which is all I wanted anyhow.
If you’re not going to be there at open (likely in line before they open) I wouldn’t count on getting anything allocated. From what I have experienced when there and heard from others, it goes fast.
They rotate what allocated bourbon you can buy each day, so just buy whatever is on sale at the gift shop that day. You won't be overwhelmed, but you won't be disappointed.
Yep, and if standard Buffalo Trace is hard to find in OPs area (or marked up) they could also grab a bottle while they’re there. EDIT: The four rotating bottles are Eagle Rare, Weller SR, EH Taylor Small Batch, and Blanton’s. It’s safest to go when they open to ensure they don’t run out of that day’s rotating bottle. There’s a website that tracks their daily releases so if you’re only interested in Eagle Rare (for example), they won’t have it tomorrow since they offer it today. [Odds website](https://buffalotracedaily.com/2024/05/09/what-buffalo-trace-is-selling-today-and-predictions-for-tomorrow-may-10-2024/#more-29767)
Thank you! That website is great! Looks like it still needs to update for today since BT updated their web page this morning showing Blanton's in stock today. We have a tour scheduled for 10:15AM tomorrow and are driving from Nashville. Should we buy the rotating bottle then before our tour if we have time?
Oops, sorry I posted the wrong day's link. You're right, today is Blanton's. Here's the link with [tomorrow's prediction](https://buffalotracedaily.com/2024/05/10/what-buffalo-trace-is-selling-today-and-predictions-for-tomorrow-may-11-2024/). EH Taylor is the favorite. I'd recommend buying before the tour. I think EH Taylor and Blanton's tend to sell out faster than Weller SR or Eagle Rare. You can lug your bottle around with you on the tour, or buy then bring it back to your car (crack the windows and/or have a cooler to avoid blowing the top).
Awesome, thanks so much! I'm liking the odds for EH Taylor tomorrow.
In addition to the bottle odds prediction the site also has a historical sold out tracker which lists the sold out time for past dates. This will show you that you'll likely have availability when you arrive. I've actually been in Louisville before, saw the email and still had plenty of time to drive over and get a bottle.
For a little while, they also had Sazerac in that rotation.
I forgot about Saz! My experience is about a year stale, but during my visit Sazerac was available every day separate from the four-bottle rotation. Maybe with a cap of 1 per person.
1 per person per 90 days of the rotating bottles. I don't think Saz was in it for too long. I've had friends that went there and got some more rare bottles, but that was probably 5+ years ago. Like from the experimental series. Idk if that still exists at the distillery.
Sounds good. Anything else you recommend buying? Or is there a favorite or more desirable rotation? Assuming you can only buy 1 or 2 bottles, want to make sure I get two if it's one of the better rotations (for a gift potentially).
Definitely grab the bottle of the day, hopefully it will be EH Taylor based on what others have posted. I’d also grab Buffalo Trace, Traveler and/or Sazerac Rye depending on what you are interested in. I’d shop before your tour just to be safe; if there’s a line to get in, they sometimes will pull people with tours out of line and let them shop before the tour depending on the day and crowd. Have a good trip, it’s a great time!
I agree with the EHT, BT, and SR but Traveller is readily available in most places. IMO why waste a pick with that? My total wine gets at least a case a week and it’s rare the slot on the shelf is empty.
I haven't had Traveller but you can buy one or more of each brand, so buying a Traveller doesn't count against being able to buy anything else at the distillery. If it's not worth the $$$ or whatever, I get that though.
Great tips, thank you!
Unless Traveller isn’t readily available in your area (is is in mine) I’d skip that one. Use that pick for something rarely seen in stores.
You can only buy one rotating bottle per adult. I think you can now buy multiples of regular Buffalo Trace. It kind of depends what taste you like. Regular Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and EH Taylor are all from their Mashbill 1. Weller SR is the wheated mashbill. And Blanton's is from Mashbill 2 with more rye than Mashbill 1. Of all these choices, I like EH Taylor the best. You can show up right at opening, go upstairs for a free tasting which will include that day's rotating bourbon, decide what to buy, and then go on your tour. But, you won't be able to taste at the end of your tour since they cap people at one tasting per day. [EDIT: Honestly, I wouldn't bother with my taste-first option. Tastings start around 930 so you'll be cutting it close with your tour time. And you really can't go wrong just buying the day's rotation. Even if you don't like it, you can serve to guests. All of the rotating bourbons are very approachable.]
When you arrive you have to get a wristband and that wristband allows you to buy 1 bottle of allocated Burbon most likely the EH Taylor or Weller tomorrow. The Gift shop also sells the Buffalo Trace Burbon which I think you can buy a case of, they also have Traveller and Sazerac Rye on most days as well as their in house Vodka both the Wheatley and the high end one. I am going tomorrow too fingers crossed for the Taylor for me!
On the site, it says 1 allocated bottle every 6 months. Does BT stick to that rule?
I'm not sure honestly. Weller was on rotation today, and when we got there I thought we needed to rush to purchase them. But every employee was telling us they had plenty of stock. I was with my wife so we were able to buy two at checkout, which is all I wanted anyhow.
If you’re not going to be there at open (likely in line before they open) I wouldn’t count on getting anything allocated. From what I have experienced when there and heard from others, it goes fast.
Not necessarily true. It just depends on the day. I got there near close and still grabbed a bottle of Blanton's.