The new Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Baijiu style bottling, according to those behind it, is distilled like a whiskey but produced using traditional Baijiu ingredients of sorghum and peas. After aging the distillate for 11 years in three separate casks, uncharred, charred and toasted white oak, the spirits were married together and bottled at 90 proof.

Baijiu, for those that don’t know what it is, is regarded as the largest selling spirit in the world, accounting for about 31 percent of spirits volume globally, according to the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR, 9L volume, calendar year 2019). It is similar to bourbon in that it is an agricultural product made from fermented grains.

The intriguing flavor profile, it was noted in a prepared statement, and rise in the spirit’s popularity led to Buffalo Trace’s curiosity in experimenting with distilling baijiu like a bourbon to create a rich and unique spirit. Official tasting notes indicate the nose is rich and savory, with notes of chocolate, dark cherries and stone fruit. The sorghum and peas provide a palate of confection sugar, followed by a sweet toffee finish.