A newly filed label in the TTB COLA database indicates a potential 40 year anniversary Elmer T. Lee bourbon release from Buffalo Trace Distillery. While a label approval does not confirm a release date or guarantee that bottles will reach retail shelves, it remains the earliest public signal that a commemorative expression is under consideration.
Elmer T. Lee first released his namesake single barrel bourbon in 1984, introducing a production concept that would permanently reshape the bourbon industry. By bottling individual barrels rather than blending for uniformity, Lee established single barrel bourbon as a distinct and enduring category.
Key Details
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Mash Bill: Sour Mash
- Barrel Type: Single Barrel
- Proof: 127.8
- ABV: 63.9%
- Batch: 236
- Filtration: Uncut & Unfiltered
- Bottle Size: 750ml
The submitted anniversary label reinforces that legacy. It describes the bourbon as uncut and unfiltered, bottled at 127.8 proof, and drawn from hand selected barrels. These production details distinguish the anniversary bottling from the standard Elmer T. Lee expression and suggest a release intended to emphasize authenticity and barrel character.
At this time, availability remains unknown. Buffalo Trace has not announced a release schedule, and TTB approval alone does not ensure distribution. However, the timing is notable. Elmer T. Lee was born on September 29, 1919, and Buffalo Trace has historically aligned significant releases with meaningful anniversaries when possible, though no such connection has been confirmed here.
For readers of Buffalo Trace Daily, this filing represents an important development in ongoing TTB label tracking. If released, the 40 year anniversary Elmer T. Lee bourbon would stand as a historically significant bottle closely tied to the origin of single barrel bourbon and one likely to attract strong interest from collectors and Buffalo Trace fans alike.