Buffalo Trace
Frankfort, Kentucky
Workhorse straight bourbon from the most decorated distillery in America. Mashbill
- Barrel entry proof
- 125
- Aging
- 8-9 years, new charred American oak
- Grains
- corn, rye, malted barley
- Congeners
- High
- Histamines
- Moderate
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Moderate
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Very Low
- Calories
- 110
- Sugar
- 0g
15.8g ethanol at 45% ABV. No sugar, so every calorie here is alcohol.
In its favor
- ✓No additives
- ✓8+ years aged at this price
- ✓Consistent quality
What to watch
- !Standard bourbon congener load
Factor by factor
Congeners High ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Moderate ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Moderate ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Moderate ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Buffalo Trace is the quality-per-dollar leader in bourbon. Honest production, no sugar, no coloring: all the chemistry is barrel-derived.
Buffalo Trace questions
How many calories are in a shot of Buffalo Trace? ▾
About 110 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 45% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Buffalo Trace have sugar? ▾
No. Buffalo Trace has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Buffalo Trace gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. Buffalo Trace is distilled from rye and barley, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What is Buffalo Trace made from? ▾
Buffalo Trace is made from corn, rye, malted barley.
What proof is Buffalo Trace? ▾
Buffalo Trace is 90 proof, which is 45% alcohol by volume.
Does Buffalo Trace give you a bad hangover? ▾
Buffalo Trace scores 6/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 7/10 for bourbon overall. The main drivers are its congeners.
Is Buffalo Trace vegan? ▾
Yes. Buffalo Trace is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.