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Buffalo Trace vs Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Buffalo Trace and Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a modern, wheated craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 64% corn, 24% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$21 less | ~$45 – $60 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace does 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.
Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/3 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond: A sweet-mash, bonded wheated bourbon from a distillery founded by two fermentation scientists, and the technical care shows in how clean it tastes. One of the strongest craft arguments on the shelf.
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 Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, sweet-mash wheater from a modern distillery doing genuinely careful work with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, rocks (Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond).