Prohibition was an odd period in U.S. history. From 1920 to 1933, the 18th Amendment made it illegal to produce or sell alcohol. There were, however, some interesting exceptions. It may seem strange today, but bottling and selling of whiskey was allowed for medicinal purposes. All you needed to get high-quality whiskey was a doctor's prescription.
Only a few producers in the country were allowed to bottle medicinal whiskey. One of those was George T. Stagg Distillery, which is known today as Buffalo Trace Distillery. Having been granted the ability to bottle medicinal whiskey, George T. Stagg Distillery began stockpiling whiskey from other, shuttered distilleries in what was known as concentration warehouses. Along with acquiring all of this whiskey, it had control over most of the brands associated with the whiskey.
The Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection is a celebration of this unique time in American whiskey history. The collection consists of five different whiskeys, all packaged in bottles that emulate those used to sell medicinal whiskey during Prohibition. Many of the labels used in the collection are taken directly from Buffalo Trace’s archives.
This year’s edition of the Prohibition Collection is quite varied. It ranges from wheated bourbon and rye to corn whiskey. None have an age statement, but they vary from barrel-strength to 100-proof. Buffalo Trace was kind enough to share samples of the hard-to-acquire set, so I blind tasted and ranked all five whiskeys in the Prohibition Collection to find the best of the batch.
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How I Tasted the Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection
Dylan Ettinger
Although I've tasted the first Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection in its entirety, the 2025 edition is completely new to me. In order to let each whiskey speak for itself, I blind-tasted them.
To do this, my partner poured each whiskey neat into a marked Glencairn glass and privately wrote down which glass contained which whiskey.
I also poured myself a glass of Buffalo Trace to taste as a familiar standard to compare the other expressions against.
I then tasted each whiskey individually, carefully noting the aromas, flavors, mouthfeel, and finish of each one. Between samples I drank cool filtered water to cleanse my palate.
After one round of tasting, I took a short break and then went back to taste each again and elaborate on my notes.
From there, I ranked all five whiskeys based on aroma, flavor, and finish. After finishing my rankings, my partner revealed the whiskeys.
Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection, Tested and Ranked
5. Mirror Brook
Buffalo Trace
- Style: Blend of Kentucky straight whiskeys
- Proof: 100
This bottled-in-bond blend of whiskeys first shows up in Buffalo Trace’s archives in a letter authored by the legendary Albert Blanton.
The first impression of the aromas in this whiskey are soft and sweet with honey and caramel and a slight herbal presence. On the palate, the sweetness drops off a bit. Cherry and baking spice are the most prominent flavors, and a noteworthy barrel char presence comes across like coffee. The finish is a little short with notes of vanilla, cherry, and subtle mint.
Though this whiskey would be totally acceptable on its own, when compared to the other whiskeys in this collection, it falls a little flat. From the aroma to the finish, it isn’t quite as complex or surprising as others. Perhaps it would have performed a bit better if it was bottled at a higher proof.
4. Old Fashioned Mountain Corn
Buffalo Trace
- Style: Corn whiskey
- Proof: 110
Old Fashioned Mountain Corn is by far the most distinctive of all five of the whiskeys. At first glance, its light golden hue sticks out among the dark amber of the other samples. That makes sense; it's corn whiskey, not a bourbon. Unlike bourbon, corn whiskey doesn't have to be aged in new, charred oak, so it doesn’t pick up quite as much color from the barrel as bourbon or rye.
On the nose, the whiskey is very sweet but delicate, with a honey notes and floral overtones. Once sipped, the sweetness continues with more honey, light caramel, and sweet corn. That's not surprising, as the mash bill must contain at least 80 percent of the grain to be considered corn whiskey. The mouthfeel is surprisingly viscous, which gives the more delicate flavors a chance to stick around. The finish offers flavors of caramel and honey with just a hint of cinnamon.
It’s a solid whiskey by any metric, but when compared to the heavier, more complex whiskeys in this collection, it may feel a bit underwhelming, even if it's unique.
3. V.O.P.
Buffalo Trace
- Style: Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 125.64
V.O.P. stands for 'Very Oldest Procurable.' Although this bourbon has no age statement, it's clearly been aged with care.
On the nose, this bourbon presents aromas of brown sugar and red fruit with a bit of warm baking spice. Once sipped, the whiskey has notes of salted caramel, dark cherry, orange zest, and a big pop of cinnamon and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is viscous and satisfying with a long finish that carries notes of cherry, caramel, and a slight hint of pink bubble gum.
Even though it's the highest-proof whiskey in the lineup, V.O.P. is an easy sipper. The sweet and approachable flavor notes balanced by oak and spice give enough complexity to this pour that it feels fully satisfying.
2. Silver Wedding Rye
Buffalo Trace
- Style: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
- Proof: 125
Thomas H. Handy rye is an annual favorite in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, so it’s no surprise I ranked Silver Wedding rye near the top of this year’s Prohibition Collection.
This whiskey has everything you’d expect from a Buffalo Trace rye. It has aromas of clove, black pepper, caramelized sugar, and warm baking spice. On the palate, there are notes of dark chocolate, orange, toffee, and black pepper. The lingering finish is slightly herbal with black pepper and clove.
Overall it’s an outstanding representation of Buffalo Trace’s rye whiskeys. It’s balanced, full-flavored, and complex, but lacks the element of surprise that I loved in the top pick.
1. Anderson’s Belle
Buffalo Trace
- Style: Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 100
Coming in first place is Anderson’s Belle, the only wheated bourbon in this year’s collection. If you’re familiar with Pappy Van Winkle and the W.L. Weller, you already know that the wheated bourbons produced at Buffalo Trace have a sterling reputation.
Anderson’s Belle doesn’t quite reach the heights of the Antique Collection’s William Larue Weller, but it’s still outstanding. The nose offers notes of caramel and orange zest with a slightly savory and herbal quality. It’s surprisingly bright once sipped. Notes of citrus peel, dried fruit, cherry, brown sugar, and mild baking spice fill the palate. The finish is creamy with notes of vanilla, berry, gentle baking spice, and a slight herbal hint.
Overall, Anderson’s Belle was the most complex, surprising, and satisfying whiskey in the Prohibition collection. It balanced bright notes of lemon and orange with dried fruit, vanilla, and caramel to create an engaging drinking experience.
Final Verdict on the 2025 Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection
The Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection is aimed at a very specific type of bourbon consumer. With a suggested retail price of $999 for the set, it’s more expensive than if you were to find the entire Antique collection at retail price.
Any student of bourbon history would go crazy for its special wooden case with cardboard boxes and Prohibition-era bottles, but due to the availability and price, this set is going to be nearly unobtainable for anyone but the most dedicated collectors.
With that out of the way, the whiskeys themselves were quite tasty. While none reached the soaring heights of the annual Antique Collection, it’s clear the Buffalo Trace put thought and care into blending unique and fun expressions for this set.
While there were a few whiskeys that clearly stood out, the overall variation between styles and flavor profiles made tasting through the Buffalo Trace Prohibition collection a rewarding experience.
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