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Buffalo Trace vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Buffalo Trace and Old Grand-Dad Bonded sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 | ~$24 – $30 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace and Old Grand-Dad Bonded do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with more proof behind it and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).