The bottle
Traveler's Whiskey, $39.99
Back story
It's the big Grammy Awards weekend. So here at Weekend Sip, it's only natural that we think of the many artists and groups, from Jennifer Lopez to Lynyrd Skynyrd, who have their own brand of booze.
Now, you can add another name to the list: country music star Chris Stapleton, who is nominated for three awards this year. Stapleton can claim a lot of past Grammy glory — he's won eight awards so far, including Best Country Album for his breakout 2015 release, “Traveller.”
Traveler is the apt name for the whiskey he created in partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery, one of the most respected bourbon makers in the business. We sampled the $10,000 Eagle Rare 25 Bourbon not long ago.
But Traveler is in a different category than that bottle — and not just because it retails for just $39.99. It is not strictly bourbon, but is referred to as blended American whisky. This means it can contain a little bit of anything and everything, including a mix of neutral bourbon and grain spirits. In the case of Traveller, the focus is on whisky. The Buffalo Trace team says it has pulled the whiskey from the wider portfolio of Sazerac, the parent company and the company behind such esteemed brands as EH Taylor and Stag.
Stapleton said he was deeply involved in the project every step of the way, including choosing the final mix from dozens of potential blends. At a recent press event in New York, he noted that he has always been a fan of not only whiskey, but specifically Buffalo Trace whiskey (he was born in Lexington, Kentucky, not far from the distillery). “It didn't take a lot of arm twisting,” he said of his decision to join the brand.
Regarding the final product, Stapleton added, “I can't speak in thoughtful terms other than 'I like it' or 'I don't like it.' Needless to say, he's impressed with what he and Buffalo Trace have created.” .
Chris Stapleton, a longtime whiskey fan, said it “didn't take a lot of arm twisting” to convince him to join Buffalo Trace Distillery and create Traveler Whiskey.
Traveler's whisky
What we think about
American blended whiskey is not generally taken seriously as a category – it falls into the realm of value drinks. But Traveler offers some real proportions for a fairly affordable bottle. It's definitely easy and fairly sweet, with notes of caramel, oak, and toasted nuts. But it's still a real whisky, with enough fullness and complexity to give it an edge.
How to enjoy it
This is good for sipping on its own – or enjoying what the Buffalo Trace team calls “Whiskey and You” (as in Traveler over Ice). For something with a little more flavor, try Country & Western — Traveler with carbonated water, agave nectar, and fresh lemon juice.
