Elmer T Lee Bourbon Review

Elmer T Lee Bourbon is named after the man who originated the idea of a single barrel offering by bringing Blanton’s to market. Elmer was an innovator and a truly unique personality in the whiskey world. Like his Blanton’s this whiskey is also a single barrel. Which means your experience might be different than mine.

Elmer T Lee Bourbon

That’s the joy and the pain of single barrel offerings. Most are good, a few are exceptional and some are disappointing, but they’re rarely “bad”. Quality control is easier here and the distillery isn’t likely to bottle their worst whiskey under these SiB offerings. That’s why they’re almost always a great buy in my opinion.

Elmer T Lee Bourbon Review: Details and Tasting Notes

Elmer T Lee Bourbon Color

In Buffalo Trace’s Words: Elmer T Lee Bourbon

“Named after Master Distiller Emeritus Elmer T. Lee, this whiskey is hand selected and bottled to the taste and standards of Elmer T. Lee himself. Perfectly balanced and rich, as declared by the man who knows how great bourbon should taste.”

Elmer T Lee Bourbon price, ABV, age and other details

Region: Kentucky, USA

Distiller: Buffalo Trace
Mash Bill: BT Mash #2 (at least 51% corn, 12-15% rye, malted barley)
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: NAS
ABV: 45%

Price: $55

Elmer T Lee Bourbon Tasting Notes

EYE
Caramel

NOSE
Toffee, roasted grain, cocoa, oak, vanilla, spice, honey and a tad bit of copper and candy.

PALATE
Toffee, vanilla, nutmeg, citrus, roasted grain, dark fruit and some pineapple candy and soap.

FINISH
Medium -> Roasted grains, oak, fruit, nutmeg and soap.

BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, medium body and a light syrupy feel.

Elmer T Lee Bourbon Review: OVERALL

Elmer T Lee Bourbon Review

I’ve had better barrels of Elmer T Lee Bourbon and I’ve had slightly worse. This barrel sits on the lower-middle end of what I’ve experienced and as such… it’s quite good. I’ve never had a bad barrel, but then most distilleries blend their defect barrels get into the larger mass-production products and never get approved to be a single barrel offering. The quality is one reason why they can be such a bang-for-your-buck.

Aroma wise this barrel is a little on the light side and doesn’t fully come together for me, it’s missing the depth I typically find in ETL bottles. The palate and finish both carry a soapy note that’s light enough to not be off-putting, but still noticeable enough that it’s a bit distracting. It’s a decent whiskey and fingers crossed the next one I review knocks it out of the park.

SCORE: 86/100 (B)