Elmer T. Lee 90th Birthday Edition Single Barrel Sour Mash Bourbon

Single barrel. 90 proof. A tribute bottling honoring Elmer T. Lee’s 90th birthday — the Master Distiller who created Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon and pioneered the modern premium bourbon movement.

Elmer T. Lee began working at what is now Buffalo Trace Distillery in 1949 and served as Master Distiller for decades. In 1984, he created Blanton’s — the world’s first commercially marketed single barrel bourbon, a release that launched the premium bourbon category as it exists today. He continued visiting the distillery weekly to personally select barrels for his self-named bourbon even after his retirement in 1985, until his passing in 2013 at age 93.

The 90th Birthday Edition is a commemorative tribute bottling produced to honor that milestone in Elmer’s life. Like all Elmer T. Lee expressions, it shares the high-rye Buffalo Trace mash bill used for Blanton’s, Rock Hill Farms, Ancient Age, and Hancock’s Reserve — bottled at 90 proof, hand-selected for the taste standards Elmer established over his decades at the distillery.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Golden amber with warm highlights.
• Nose: Clove, vanilla, and old leather — the characteristic Elmer T. Lee nose that Wine Enthusiast rated 91 points and Whisky Advocate called “elegant and complex.”
• Palate: Fruit, honey, and vanilla with a light spiciness — the high-rye mash bill’s contribution balanced by the sweetness of quality barrel selection.
• Finish: Long and warm — oak and tannins with a burnt sugar and caramel tinge.

Critical Acclaim

• Spirit Journal: 5 Stars / Highest Recommendation — “A fitting liquid tribute to a genuinely great whiskey man and a true pioneer.”
• Wine Enthusiast: 91 points
• Whisky Advocate: “An elegant, complex whiskey. The flavors are nice and tight.”

Specs

• Distillery: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel
• Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
• Release: 90th Birthday Edition
• Size: 750ml