Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition 134.2 Proof 750mL

A single barrel of the first-ever uncut and unfiltered Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary , bottled straight from the barrel at 134.2 proof — near the top of the 40th Anniversary Edition's range.

Buffalo Trace released the Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition to mark four decades since the original Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon debuted in 1986. For the first time, the bourbon is presented uncut and unfiltered, drawn directly from the barrel without dilution or chill filtration — the way Elmer T. Lee himself evaluated barrels. Every bottle in the release comes from its own barrel at its own natural proof, and across the edition those proofs run from 124.8 to 138.6. This listing is a specific bottle at 134.2 proof (67.1% ABV), one of the more concentrated barrels in the release.

Elmer T. Lee joined the then-George T. Stagg Distillery in 1949 and rose to Master Distiller. In 1984 he created Blanton's, the world's first single-barrel bourbon and the release that launched the premiumization of the category. Only limited quantities of the 40th Anniversary Edition were sold, through a bottle draw at the Buffalo Trace Distillery gift shop.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Apricot, almond, vanilla, toasted coconut, and honeysuckle.
• Palate: Rich and chewy, with a crème brûlée-like sweetness.
• Finish: Long, with toasted oak and baking spice.

Tasting notes are Buffalo Trace's notes for the release as a whole; at 134.2 proof, expect more intensity than the lower-proof barrels.

Specs

• Distillery: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel — uncut and unfiltered
• Proof: 134.2 (67.1% ABV)
• Age: No age statement
• Size: 750mL
• Release: 40th Anniversary Edition (2026)

Explore the full Elmer T. Lee collection at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What proof is this bottle? This bottle is 134.2 proof (67.1% ABV). Each 40th Anniversary Edition bottle comes from a single barrel at its own natural proof, ranging from 124.8 to 138.6 across the release.
• How is the 40th Anniversary Edition different from standard Elmer T. Lee? It is the first-ever uncut and unfiltered Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel, bottled at full barrel proof with no dilution or chill filtration, rather than the standard 90 proof.
• Who was Elmer T. Lee? He was Master Distiller at what is now Buffalo Trace, and in 1984 created Blanton's, the first commercially marketed single-barrel bourbon. His namesake bourbon debuted in 1986, and this edition marks its 40th anniversary.