There is a class of bourbon that serious collectors know about but don’t mention in public, since once it gets too public, the price on the shelf goes up by double and the allocation quickly is exhausted. Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon has been flirting with that line for years. 

It’s not as over-hyped as Blanton’s. Not as mythologized as Pappy either. Not as Instagrammed as Weller Full Proof. However, for those who are familiar with the history of Buffalo Trace, it can’t be compared with the weight of any of those bottles. It’s the bourbon that was named after the man who created the single barrel category.

The Man Behind the Bottle

Before talking about what’s in the glass, it’s important to know the story behind Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon, as it will make you think differently about every sip of the glass.

Elmer Tandy Lee was born in Peaks Mill, Kentucky, in 1919 and spent over 35 years at what is now Buffalo Trace Distillery. In 1984, he did something no one in the commercial bourbon business had ever done: he removed whiskey from a single cask and bottled it without any blending whatsoever, and placed it on the shelves. 

This bottle was Blanton’s Original Single Barrel, and it started the whole modern premium bourbon craze. All of the bourbons you’ve ever had, from any distilleries, are a result of Elmer T. Lee’s attempt to do something new in 1984. 

Lee retired in 1985 and personally handled barrel selection for his now-famous expression, picking each barrel until his death at age 93 in 2013. The Bourbon he named after himself is a testament to a man whose hands are all over the whole industry. 

What Makes Elmer T. Lee Bourbon Different

Elmer T. Lee bourbon is built on Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill 2, the high-rye recipe also used for Blanton’s. It’s another level up from the wheated mash bill they’ve used in the Weller lineup; a little more rye spice and rye structure to a still smooth and approachable single barrel expression. The bourbon is bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), the same proof as the Original Single Barrel, without chill filtration, in the standard 750ml format. 

Like every true single barrel release, no two bottles are identical. Each bottle has details of the barrel number and details of selection written on it, so what you are tasting is a document of one barrel, not a blended approximation of a consistent flavor profile. It is this variation that makes Elmer T. Lee single barrel sour mash releases so fascinating to keep over time. 

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Even in the true elmer t lee single barrel bourbon review, there is a very high level of consistency in the consensus tasting notes as a result of the single barrel variation, which is indicative of the consistency and reliability of Buffalo Trace’s barrel selection process.

Rich vanilla, warm caramel up front, clove, old leather, and a deep honey undertone tying everything together; it is the nose that wins the people over first. It is a very beautiful nose, not difficult, not showy. 

The nose has a wonderful mix of fruit, honey, and vanilla with a light but present mid-palate rye spice. It’s a medium-bodied, smooth (not thin) and very refined for a bourbon at this proof point.

The finish is long and warm, fading gradually with a lingering oak and sweetness, unlike some cheaper bottles which fade away abruptly. 

This is a bourbon that lends itself to slow sipping, which is a fact any serious elmer t lee single barrel sour mash review will tell you. 

It won Gold medals at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013, and it should be no surprise that so many awards are granted to it when it is tasted.

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon Price and MSRP

Here’s where the conversation turns practical. Elmer t Lee Single Barrel Bourbon price at suggested retail sits around $40-$50, which is one of the best values in the entire Buffalo Trace repertoire when you take into account what you’re getting: a single barrel, high-rye, hand-selected single barrel bourbon, at a proof level that will be more than approachable. 

Elmer T Lee MSRP has not shifted significantly as some other expressions of Buffalo Trace have, which is one of the reasons it’s one of the better buys in the allocated bourbon section. 

However, secondary market prices are different; bottles are regularly sold for $100-$200 depending on release and region. The idea is to work with a reliable retailer, and not just get it anywhere near the MSRP. 

For current availability and upfront pricing, Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon is listed directly through A Liquor, with real-time stock shown so you’re not chasing a bottle that’s already gone.

How Often Is Elmer T. Lee Released?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions in the world of bourbon you will get and it is simple yet frustrating. How often is Elmer T. Lee released doesn’t follow a predictable public schedule the way some annual releases do. 

It is distributed via Buffalo Trace’s normal allocation system, which gives bottles to retailers in small amounts, not on a set schedule. It doesn’t have a “fall release” or annual event associated with it, and this is more about timing, building relationships with retailers, and keeping an eye on reliable online sources than it is about marking a release date on your calendar.

If you’ve been searching Elmer T. Lee for sale online and coming up empty, that unpredictable release pattern is exactly why. Browse the complete Buffalo Trace collection at A Liquor to see what’s currently available, including Elmer T. Lee and related expressions from the same distillery.

Why Every Serious Collector Needs This Bottle

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon lies in a uniquely distinct position in the bourbon community. It is the homage bottle to the man who invented the category, from the same high-rye mash bill as Blanton’s, handcrafted with the same attention to detail that typified Lee’s career. It’s available at 90 proof, it’s fair at $40-$50 retail, and it’s irreplaceable as a piece of bourbon history. 

If you haven’t added it to your shelf yet, check the full bourbon selection at A Liquor and make Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon the next bottle you add to your collection before the next allocation disappears.