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Buffalo Trace vs Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Buffalo Trace and Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a blender-built, rye-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$134 less | ~$150 – $180 |
- Buffalo Trace and Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/9 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 8 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 7 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend: Older sourced bourbon finished in sherry, Cognac and then Armagnac casks. Dense dried fruit, fig and orange over cigar leaf and charred oak.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend if you want a fruit-packed, multi-cask-finished bourbon built to go with a cigar.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat (Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend).