Ask Chris Stapleton about his palate and the country icon laughs. “I’m not one of those folks who can pick out distinct flavors,” he says. “I’ve got a “Gladiator” approach: thumbs up or down. I don’t consider myself a whiskey expert—other than in consumption.”
The “Tennessee Whiskey” singer always issues a thumbs up to Buffalo Trace Distillery products, particularly E.H. Taylor. “Someone brought a bottle into the studio in 2013 and I loved it,” Stapleton tells us during a video chat from a Florida vacation. “I find something I like and stick to it. [E.H. Taylor] is where I’ve lived for a long time.” Present for every recording session of any record he’s made, E.H. Taylor may well be a de facto member of Stapleton’s band.
Now E.H. Taylor must battle for studio space. Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey is here.
What is Traveller Whiskey and How is it Made?
Traveller Blend No. 40 is the result of Stapleton’s collaboration with Buffalo Trace’s master distiller Harlen Wheatley, also on our call. The bottle is a combination of whiskeys blended from the venerable distillery’s portfolio, but Wheatley’s tightlipped about particulars.
How many labels are in the blend? “More than two,” Wheatley smirks. Traveller’s is a non-age statement product, so can Wheately reveal the oldest whiskey? “Old enough to taste good,” he deadpans. Traveller’s labeled blended whiskey but it doesn’t state it’s from Kentucky, as most Buffalo Trace products do. Does that mean it’s pulling in whiskey from other states or Canada? “What are you, a lawyer?” Wheatley grins.
“We don’t talk about where we’re getting it; just that it’s from our stocks, there’s no neutral spirits, and it’s a great blend that’s approachable,” Wheatley says. “Colonel Sanders doesn’t give up the chicken recipes, man,” Stapleton quips.
Whatever it is, heavy blending was done by Wheatley and his team ahead of sharing samples with Stapleton. “They had 50 blends,” Stapleton recalls, with the top half dozen sent to him. “I got whiskey buddies, guys who can speak intelligently about flavor profiles, like my bass player, J.T. Cure, and we tasted the samples. Everyone zeroed in on ‘Blend No. 40,’ so that was the one,” Stapleton says. “I saved that little sample bottle.”
The proof, 45% ABV, was intentional, to allow for approachability while maintaining the proper flavors. “We don’t want it to be too overpowering and turn people off,” says Stapleton.
Selecting the Name and Packaging
With the myriad of songs, lyrics, and album titles, Stapleton had no dearth of options for the name. “[Buffalo Trace] had a different name in mind when they approached me,” Stapleton says, “One I wasn’t keen on. I asked about Traveller,” his debut solo album title. Word came back after a trademark search that Traveller was taken… by Buffalo Trace. The distillery was using it for another brand, but gave it to Stapleton. “That was serendipitous,” Stapleton says.
The singer also asked to place the map of Kentucky on the inside of the back label, so it faintly shines through the liquid. It’s a subtle, yet effective touch.
Stapleton’s Whiskey Journey
Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky—near Buffalo Trace Distillery—Stapleton has fond memories of playing music with a glass of whiskey nearby. “Back then, I drank whatever I could afford,” he says. Trying all manner of mashbills and brands, “I wound up being a bourbon guy all the way.”
Contrary to reports, Stapleton still drinks alcohol, though his imbibing is more moderate. For example, you won’t see him drinking on stage: “I play better when sober. It’s intense up there, I sink in hard for those few hours. I’ve got my game face on and I want to deliver.”
“I bring bourbon in the studio, but there’s a fine line between having fun and not getting any work done,” he says. He recalls writing songs with the late Mike Henderson, with whom he co-founded SteelDrivers and continued collaborating after both had left the band. “I’d show up at Mike’s house and there’d be two glasses of ice and a bottle of brown. I’d pour and we’d get to work,” Stapleton says, noting tunes like “Broken Halos,” “Death Row,” and “Starting Over,” emerged from these sessions. “I miss sharing a whiskey with Mike.”
His favorite drink is “whiskey and ice.” Ahead of Traveller’s launch party—a decadent affair held at New York City’s three-Michelin-starred Per Se restaurant—Stapleton did approve a cocktail called Country and Western, which combines his whiskey with Topo Chico and lime juice.
Tasting Buffalo Trace’s Unobtanium
When Stapleton met Wheatley, the master distiller took the singer on a tour of the ricks. “It was a surreal experience. I’m a big fan of Harlen’s and the whiskey he’s made. I feel privileged to have walked those hallways and have him tell me what’s up,” Stapleton says. “You’re witnessing art.”
Presumably, a celebrity launching a brand with the makers of Pappy Van Winkle and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection leaves that experience laden with rare bottles. “Not quite,” Stapleton says. “They were very generous and let me taste things like [the $10,000] Eagle Rare 25 Year and other forthcoming products that I can’t speak about. But I didn’t get bottles of Pappy. Though I do love Lot B.”
“You can have whatever you like,” replies Wheatley. “Let the accountants figure it out later.”
How Does Traveller Whiskey Taste?
A quick Traveller review for you (our official rating score comes soon). It’s distinct from other Buffalo Trace products—this isn’t merely mashbill #1 or #2 comingled. It’s a unique sensory experience from what diehard Sazarac fans know.
Traveller hits the mark at which it aimed: an approachable whiskey. On the nose, it’s light. There’s soft caramel and vanilla notes, with a hint of rye coming in underneath. A little cinnamon and citrus. It’s hard to pin down any mashbill from a sniff though, no dominant characteristic shines through.
On the palate, it’s light, creamy and sweet, with decent mouthfeel. Notes of sweet corn, butterscotch, and maple syrup pop. The heavy sweetness is good for category newbies, but it’s not so cloying as to deter more serious whiskey drinkers. (If you’re a hazmat-only drinker, however, this bottle isn’t for you.)
For the finish, rye spice blossoms quickly then fades, leaving you with musty tobacco and leather. This drier note stays for a beat before trailing off. It’s a shorter ending, but a pleasing one. You want another sip.
It’s good neat or with ice, and it stands up in a cocktail. We tried the Country and Western libation at the launch fete; it’s surprisingly good, a highball with a Southern twang. It is also solid in an Old Fashioned and in a Paper Plane.
Is Traveller Whiskey a Limited-Release?
Nope, Traveller is not a limited release; it’ll be widely available. Unlike E.H. Taylor and other allocated Buffalo Trace products, the price should still be near the $39 SRP on shelves.
