FRANKFORT, KY (January 29, 2025) – Buffalo Trace Distillery is proud to announce the 26th release from its innovative Experimental Collection: Spirits Distilled from Grain and Hops. As the Distillery’s latest example of its commitment to “Honor Tradition, Embrace Change,” this new addition examines how an ingredient commonly used in beer production impacts a spirit’s final flavor profile.
Ideated over ten years ago, while bitter beers with floral aromas were growing in popularity, Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley questioned how the presence of hops would impact a spirit. Therefore, he infused two distinct hops—Saaz noble hops, a Czechoslovakian variety commonly found in Bohemian pilsners, and Zythos®, an American hop with tropical and subtle herbal notes – into a raw distillate for thirty minutes. The new make distillate, infused with European and American hops, was redistilled and aged in charred white oak casks for eleven years and seven months.
“Hoppy beers are a playground for brewers; there are many techniques used to capture different flavors. It inspired us to play around with this essential beer ingredient as well,” Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley remarks. “Thanks to the eleven-plus years of aging, the hop aroma and hop flavors are evident while providing a balanced bitterness that blends well with the spirit’s oaky whiskey character.”
Bottled at 90-proof, the nose of Spirits Distilled from Grain and Hops is uniquely hoppy, reminiscent of citrus and herbal notes found in beer, intertwined with creamy vanilla and seasoned oak undertones. Vibrant citrus flavors with pronounced lemon and orange zest play with fresh herbal flavors and robust oak notes on the palate. The finish is clean and refreshing.
“Enjoying Spirits Distilled from Grain and Hops neat is the best way to learn about it, but I encourage fans to experiment with the spirit at home,” Wheatley states. “A hopped spirit creates a unique cocktail experience. Test it out as a Manhattan and move from there. Curiosity is key.”
The World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery began experimenting with various recipes and barrel treatments over two decades ago. As the 26th release from Trace Distillery’s Experimental Collection, Spirits Distilled from Grain and Hops exemplifies the Distillery’s commitment to crafting fine products.
“At the core of our Experimental Collection is a passion for pushing boundaries and creating unforgettable drinking experiences for our fans,” says Buffalo Trace Distillery Global Director Andrew Duncan.” After tasting it with our distillers, we agreed Release #26 embodies our relentless drive for innovation. Merging the worlds of beer and whiskey is especially exciting—we believe beer lovers will appreciate its bold hoppiness while discovering the depth of its whiskey-like qualities. A spirit like this, crafted at this scale, is truly rare.”
Bottled at 90-proof, the nose of Spirits Distilled from Grain and Hops is uniquely hoppy, reminiscent of citrus and herbal notes found in beer, intertwined with creamy vanilla and seasoned oak undertones. Vibrant citrus flavors with pronounced lemon and orange zest play with fresh herbal flavors and robust oak notes on the palate. The finish is clean and refreshing.
Currently, more than 30,000 experimental barrels of whiskey are aging in Buffalo Trace Distillery’s warehouses. Each of the barrels has unique characteristics and experimental changes in the mash bill, types of wood, barrel toasts, and more. Since not every experiment is deemed worthy of bottling, these whiskeys are released periodically and sold on a limited basis.
Buffalo Trace Experimental Spirits Distilled from Grain and Hops will be available in limited quantities on select dates at the Buffalo Trace Distillery gift shop beginning late January 2025 at a suggested retail price of $46.99. Due to the limited nature of these releases, all expressions from the Experimental Collection are offered in 375ml bottles. Learn more about the Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection series here.
