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Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond vs Buffalo Trace
Comparing Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond and Buffalo Trace reveals a matchup between a modern, wheated craft expression and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond | Buffalo Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 64% corn, 24% wheat, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 | ~$28 – $35 ~$21 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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
Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond Buffalo Trace
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/5 spice: Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace).