FRANKFORT, Ky. — Buffalo Trace Distillery is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon with a first for the highly sought-after brand: an uncut and unfiltered, barrel-proof release.
The new Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition will range from 124.8 to 138.6 proof, depending on the barrel, and carry a suggested retail price of $99.99 for a 750-milliliter bottle.
Quantities will be limited, and Buffalo Trace is introducing a new online bottle drawing system to determine who will have the opportunity to purchase a bottle at the distillery.
The anniversary release arrives four decades after Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon debuted in 1986 and pays tribute to the longtime Buffalo Trace master distiller who played a significant role in shaping the modern premium bourbon market.
Lee joined what was then the George T. Stagg Distillery in 1949 as a maintenance engineer after serving in World War II and graduating from the University of Kentucky. Over the next four decades, he rose to become master distiller and helped guide the distillery through an era of modernization and growth.
Perhaps his most consequential contribution to modern bourbon came in 1984 with the introduction of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon, widely credited as the first commercially marketed single-barrel bourbon.
Two years later, the distillery introduced Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon in his honor.
“Elmer’s legacy is something we feel and celebrate every day at the Distillery, not just in the bourbon we make, but in the way we approach our work,” Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said. “His commitment to craftsmanship guided not only our future at Buffalo Trace, but it also helped set the course for American whiskey as a whole.”
Wheatley also has a personal connection to Lee.
“I was fortunate to learn from Elmer early in my career, and his guidance left a lasting impression on how I approach my work,” Wheatley said. “Releasing this rare whiskey in his honor is incredibly meaningful and a privilege for all of us at the Distillery.”
For the 40th Anniversary Edition, Buffalo Trace is presenting Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon directly from the barrel without dilution or chill filtration.
The idea is to offer bourbon drinkers an experience closer to what Lee himself would have encountered when tasting directly from barrels as he evaluated whiskey for Blanton’s single-barrel selections.
Lee did not bottle Elmer T. Lee as an uncut and unfiltered bourbon during his era, when barrel-proof whiskey was not the popular category it has become today. The anniversary release instead provides modern barrel-proof bourbon enthusiasts an opportunity to experience an individual Elmer T. Lee barrel closer to the way Lee would have tasted it during the selection process.
“For the first time, we’re sharing Elmer T. Lee Bourbon exactly as it comes from the barrel,” said Erica Bovard, senior brand director of American whiskey. “By offering it uncut and unfiltered, we’re able to highlight the depth and character of the whiskey while staying true to the standards Elmer set. We think fans will love this release, and importantly, it’s one we believe Elmer would be proud of.”
Buffalo Trace selected the anniversary barrels for their richness and individuality, with each bottled at its natural barrel proof.
According to the distillery, the whiskeys offer notes of apricot, almond, vanilla, toasted coconut and honeysuckle, leading into a rich, chewy palate with crème brûlée-like sweetness. Toasted oak and baking spice carry through the finish.
Because it remains a single-barrel bourbon bottled at natural proof, individual bottles will vary depending on their source barrel. Proofs across the release range from 124.8 to 138.6.
For collectors hoping to land one, Buffalo Trace is changing the way the distillery handles this release.
The Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition will become the first whiskey offered through the new Buffalo Trace Distillery Bottle Draw, a system developed in response to consumer feedback about access to limited bottles.
Online registration opens at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday, Sept. 15, and closes at 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 17.
Entries are limited to one per person, and there is no advantage to registering early. Buffalo Trace said the timing of an entry will not affect a participant’s odds of being selected.
An independent partner will randomly select names Sept. 22, and all entrants will be notified whether they were selected.
Winners will not have bottles shipped to them. Those selected must visit Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort between Sept. 28 and Oct. 11 during normal visitor hours to purchase their bottle. The price is $99.99, plus applicable taxes and fees.
Complete details and registration for the drawing are available at www.buffalotracedistillery.com/draws.
Buffalo Trace said it will collect feedback from participants following the inaugural drawing and use that information to refine the process for future limited releases.
Regular Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon continues to be produced in limited quantities, with individual barrels released when they are deemed ready for bottling.
The 40th Anniversary Edition joins several previous commemorative Elmer T. Lee bottles, including the 100 Year Tribute released in 2019, the Commemorative Bottle released in 2013 and the 90th Birthday Edition released in 2009.
Additional information about the bourbon is available on the Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon page.
About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site. The Distillery has won more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 and garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. Its William Larue Weller, Stagg, Eagle Rare 10, and Thomas H. Handy received Gold Awards at the 2025 International Wine & Spirits Competition and its flagship Buffalo Trace Bourbon received a Master Medal at the 2025 Global American Whiskey Masters. Buffalo Trace Distillery has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.
