The Story

Any seasoned bourbon enthusiast is likely to have at least heard of Elmer T. Lee. It’s one of those rather popular, allocated bottles that is seldom seen on sitting on store shelves. Just five or so years ago you could find it at any many retailers, as our co-founder Justin learned during his early years as a whiskey Tater. Nowadays however, you don’t see it leave the store unless it’s in the hands of a lucky raffle winner, or as part of an allocated bottle release where dozens of people are lined up outside of a liquor store before the doors even open. It’s no secret that ETL is increasingly hard to find, and that people are willing to go the extra mile to get their hands on a bottle.

So then, what is Elmer T. Lee’s secret?

Some might say it’s just bottle hype, but others might just say it’s because the bottle is damn good. After all, it’s produced by one of the biggest names in the bourbon industry: Buffalo Trace Distillery. And they aren’t modest about their experience, either; they’ll quickly tell you that they’re one of the longest continually running distilleries in the United States, as they were given special dispensation to produce whiskey for medicinal purposes during Prohibition.

Elmer T. Lee gets its name from one of the former master distillers at Buffalo Trace Distillery. The reason the bottle dons his name is because Buffalo Trace hand selects and bottles to the taste and standards which were set forth by the man himself. It’s a 90 proof expression produced from Buffalo Trace’s Mash bill #2, which is rumored to be a 12-15% higher-rye mash bill.

So without further ado, let’s get into this legendary pour and see if we can detect what all the excitement is about.

Nose

The nose is very pleasant and light, with prominent notes of vanilla, honey and a touch of orange peel.

Palate

The palate stays true to the nose and showcases that honey sweetness and folds in that vanilla, with some light fruit notes and just a hint of spice. 

Finish

The finish is medium-long and very enjoyable, with those sweeter notes of vanilla and caramel persisting throughout.

Verdict

Elmer T. Lee retails in our area for a very affordable $37.99. At that price, we believe ETL is a no-brainer buy. It’s a perfectly tuned, sweet-forward bourbon that hits all the right notes. The flavors aren’t weak for a 90-proofer. It’s a nice, easy to drink sipper that we prefer to pour on a summer day with sunny weather.

We would give a reasonable price range of anywhere from that $40ish starting point to $80 because it’s quite simply an enjoyable pour.

We have seen and heard of this bottle going for upwards of $200 or $300 and while we don’t see the value in those prices, it speaks volumes as to what people are willing to pay for this bottle if one magically ends up in their local store.

Overall, we’re giving Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel an 8.8 out of 10 for being a quintessential sweet bourbon, for its expertly crafted taste and for hitting all the right notes right at 90 proof. 

Do you own this bottle? Then surely you’ll want to add it to your inventory using our web app! It’s free to use. Sign up here to get a handle on that unruly home bar.

Cheers friends!