Traveller Whiskey Cranks It Up to 121 Proof for Its First Line Extension. We Tried It

When Traveller Whiskey launched in 2024 in collaboration between country phenom Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley, it was intentionally bottled at 45% ABV to make it approachable “We don’t want it to be too overpowering and turn people off,” the 12-time Grammy winner told us at the time. Today, Stapleton and the Frankfort, Kentucky distillery are launching Traveller Full Proof, a 60.5% ABV expression that turns everything up to 11.

How Traveller Full Proof Came Together

The idea was straightforward: take Traveller’s signature Blend No. 40 and see how high the proof could go without losing the gentle and soft character that defined the original. Even ahead of the initial launch of Traveller, Stapleton says he gravitated toward higher-proof and barrel-strength offerings.

“When we decided to experiment with a higher-proof expression [of Traveller], I was excited to see where that could land,” Stapleton. “One night after a show, we had two potential Full Proof contenders backstage with the band and some friends. Everyone agreed 121 was the clear winner.”

What’s in Traveller Full Proof?

Wondering how Stapleton had options of “full proof” proofs? Fair question. The term “full proof” has no official government definition, so it’s at the discretion of the distillery as to what full proof represents in terms of ABV and process. For Buffalo Trace, the definition is crystalline: “We use the term ‘full proof’ to specify that [the whiskey is the same] proof [as when it] went into the barrel, versus ‘barrel proof’ being whatever exits the barrel after aging,”

When dialing in a whiskey like Traveller Full Proof, “we usually evaluate multiple proof points across a fairly tight range,” Wheatley says. “That gives us enough contrast to understand how the blend behaves as alcohol content shifts without introducing unnecessary noise. From that internal work, we narrowed it to three final proof options that best expressed the character of the whiskey, and those are the ones Chris tasted and weighed in on for the final decision.”

As for what’s in the blend, that’s up for speculation. The label here is more telling by what’s omitted than included, notably that it’s simply called “whiskey” with no mention of a distillation origin. This opens the door widely to the possibility of some Canadian whisky in the blend.

Traveller Full Proof Tasting Notes

We found the original iteration of Traveller to be light, creamy, sweet, and generally pleasing. Traveller has a floral, syrupy aroma, with a hint of baking spice lurking at the end of the whiff.

Traveller Full Proof noses with significantly more punch, darker, oakier, and spicier. This is a pour that lets you know it’s here to make an impression, not to be polite. Cinnamon, mint, orange zest, dark chocolate, white, and black pepper pop on each sniff.

On the palate, much of the sweetness of Traveller is replaced by robust barrel and baking spice. There’s a light effervescence on the tip of your tongue as the spice rapidly crescendos and fades toward the back of the palate, settling into more pronounced leather, tobacco, and dried floral flavors. The finish, while drying and not terribly protracted, ends with a sugar-free cherry lozenge note; a little sweet, a little tart.

Those who may have perceived Traveller as lacking in depth or complexity won’t be able to say that about Full Proof. Stapleton said the original was designed not to turn people off. Full Proof is designed to awaken palates. At $40, it’s a compelling value play in the higher-proof space, and it earns the conversation.

Is Traveller Full Proof an Allocated Product?

No, it’s not. Traveller Full Proof is available nationwide beginning this month.