There has been a slew of celebrity “collaborations” in the spirit business as of late. We put the word in quotes because we can never find out what the celebrity actually collaborated on. Did they help nail down a taste profile? Did they have a taste profile in mind? Did they have a certain mash bill or aging request? Are they part owners of that particular brand? Or did they just lend their name to the bottle to make even more money? This “collaboration” is between Buffalo Trace Distillery and singer Chris Stapleton. Today, we are tasting Traveller Whiskey, Blend number 40. From their website, “In pursuit of the finest possible whiskey, over 50 blends were sampled before making Blend No. 40.” And “Crafted to be there whenever you find yourself in good company, Traveller Whiskey is Easy to Drink, Hard Not to Love. ” From the bottle, “Good whiskey is like a good song. It needs no explanation.” Notice it is not called Bourbon, but a blended whiskey. There are some rules regarding that title that we will not get into, but the main thing to remember is that it does not have to follow the Bourbon rules.
Traveller Whiskey does not release its mash bill or age. It does not call itself Straight Whiskey, which we believe means it has to be at least 4 years old. So, your guess is as good as ours. It sells for $40, is 90 proof, comes in a plain-looking corked bottle, and doesn’t seem too hard to find. It is made by Buffalo Trace.
We mentioned there are a lot of celebrity-endorsed juices out right now, but not a lot of Whiskey ones. Seems the celebs want their name on tequila instead. The only one we have had before, we liked, and it was Heaven’s Door endorsed by the great Bob Dylan. As always, we are a little skeptical of anything we think might be a gimmick. Another reason to be skeptical, in the past, “blended whiskey” had a bad reputation and usually meant a cheaper, inferior product. But times have changed, and maybe the meaning of blended whiskey has changed as well. Let’s hope so.
NOSE
Matt: Has a very prominent musty smell up front that almost overwhelms other scents. But I do get some wet wood, caramel, and a touch of brown sugar. Has an overall sweet aroma.
Todd: Wood and mustiness up front with some malt, chocolate, and pepper. Like Matt, I get an overall sweetness to this whiskey.
TASTE
Matt: A strong nutty flavor along with some spices (black pepper and cinnamon). Also picking up dark chocolate and maybe peanut butter. Ice makes it better and brings out more nuttiness.
Todd: A unique blend of sweetness, spice, and a toasted taste that is probably Matt’s nuttiness. Slighter tastes include honey, corn, and a fruit that I cannot identify. Ice gives me the nuttiness.
FINISH
Matt: Medium with a nice hint of cherries.
Todd: Medium with a bit of sweetness and a slight burn to remind you this is an adult drink.
OVERALL
Matt: Interesting drink, I would buy again if in the mood for something unique. Also, good price.
Todd: Priced right. While I think it is okay I feel like Matt likes it more than I did.
Nose 3.25 out of 5
Taste 7 out of 10
Finish 3 out of 5
Total score 13.25 out of 20 barrels.
Value-wise, there is not a ton of Bourbon/whiskeys out there at $40 or under that have no flaws. There are some better buys, though. To mention a few, Bulleit Rye, Knob Creek, Woodford, and Sazerac if you can find it. Doesn’t necessarily mean you will feel the same as us. Traveller Whiskey does have a unique taste, makes for a decent cocktail, and, as mentioned, won’t break the bank.
Other reasons to try Traveller Whiskey, you might love all things Chris Stapleton and want to support him. If you like Chris, you might want to try a whiskey that he was part of creating(maybe). You might be a big fan of Buffalo Trace (we are) and just might want to try it for that reason. For whatever reason, at this price, you should give it a try.