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Releases-Batches
Approx. 350 bottles per barrel assumed released.
Release 17 - (
Release 16 – (Feb, 2015) – Barrels # 7, 20, 39, 52, 71, 84, 103, 116, 135, 148, 168, 180
Release 15 – (Nov, 2014) – Barrels #21, 22, 53, 54, 85, 86, 117, 118, 149, 150, 181, 182
Release 14 – (Aug, 2014) – Barrels # 2, 12, 34, 44, 66, 76, 98, 108, 130, 140, 162, 172
Release 13 – (May, 2014) – Barrels #11, 13, 43, 45, 75, 77, 107, 109, 139, 141, 171, 173
Release 12 – (Feb, 2014) – Barrels #15, 16, 47, 48, 79, 80, 111, 112, 143, 144, 175, 176
Release 11 – (Nov, 2013) – Barrels #19, 23, 51, 55, 83, 87, 115, 119, 147, 151, 179, 183
Release 10 – (Aug, 2013) – Barrels #9, 25, 41, 57, 73, 89, 105, 121, 137, 153, 169, 185
Release 9 – (May, 2013) – Barrels #5, 6, 37, 38, 69, 70, 101, 102, 133, 134, 165, 166
Release 8 – (Feb, 2013) – Barrels #28, 59, 60, 91, 92, 123, 124, 155, 156, 187, 188
Release 7 – (Nov, 2012) – Barrels #18, 26, 50, 58, 82, 90, 114, 122, 146, 154, 178, 186
Release 6 – (Aug, 2012) – Barrels #30, 32, 62, 64, 94, 96, 126, 128, 158, 160, 190, 192
Release 5 – (May, 2012) – Barrels #1, 17, 33, 49, 65, 81, 97, 113, 129, 145, 161, 177
Release 4 – (Feb, 2012) – Barrels #10, 14, 42, 46, 74, 78, 106, 110, 138, 142, 170, 174
Release 3 – (Nov, 2011) – Barrels #8, 24, 40, 56, 72, 88, 104, 120, 136, 152, 167, 184
Release 2 – (Aug, 2011) – Barrels #29, 31, 61, 63, 93, 95, 125, 127, 157, 159, 189, 191
Release 1 – (May, 2011) – Barrels #3, 4, 35, 36, 67, 68, 99, 100, 131, 132, 163, 164
Buffalo Trace releases 12 unique barrels from their highly experimental Single Oak Project collection and encouraged buyers to review them on the SingleOakProject.com website. Each barrel produced approximately 350hand-numbered half (375ml) bottles that sold for $45-$60 each. In the end, only about 6% (est.) of the ~70,000 total bottles produced were actually reviewed on Buffalo Trace’s project website and many of them ranked in the B/B- grade range.
There were a few barrels that managed to separate themselves from the pack and earn status as “must have” bottles for serious bourbon collectors and drinkers. They are barrel #80 (the overall winner for the experiment), barrels #82, #109, #161, and #179 (the four runners up for overall best), barrel #1 (wanted for collectible status), barrel #111 (highly rated on the website), barrels # 155, 187, 188 (earned a rare 5/5 rating from F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal), barrels # 14, 27, 30, 63, 101 (scored 95+ in Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible) and barrels # 56, 136 (referenced in a press release as favorites of voters with most barrels reviewed).
The best barrel (#80) was ultimately selected by a panel of experts. It had a rye-focused mashbill, 12 months of stave seasoning time, average grain size, 125º entry proof, #4 char, wood from the bottom half of the tree, and was matured in a warehouse with a concrete floor. Buffalo Trace will produce a bourbon brand that matches that barrel.
Buffalo Trace’s Description: For over two centuries Buffalo Trace Distillery has been a pioneering leader in quality and innovation. The Single Oak Project is its most inventive and comprehensive experiment yet. It all started with 96 individually selected American oak trees that differed according to the number of growth rings per inch and growing location. Each tree was then cut into two parts – top and bottom – yielding 192 unique tree sections. A single barrel was constructed from each section. Prior to construction, the stave seasoning was varied. The 192 barrels were then charred differently. These single oak barrels were then filled with different recipe whiskeys, at various entry proofs and aged in a variety of different warehouse styles. This experiment allows whiskey connoisseurs to directly compare the impact of seven different critical variables across 192 bottles for a total of 1,396 taste combinations. None of the 192 bottles in the complete set are exactly alike. The Single Oak Project is undoubtedly the most extensive bourbon experiment ever undertaken.
Producer: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Release Category: Limited-Edition
Release Frequency: 12 Barrels Every 3 Months (2011 – )
Releases to Date: 16 (no additional releases planned)
Release Season: Quarterly
Release Volume: 300-400 Bottles per Unique Barrel; 192 Numbered Barrels
Release Region: Primarily US
Bottle Size: 375ml
Nickname: SOP, BTSOP, Oak Project, Single Oak, SOP+Barrel (ex: “SOP75” is barrel 75)
Avg. Price Retail: $55
Avg. Price Among Whiskey Traders: $70 (general bottle) – $125 (highly rated)
Avg. Price on Secondary Market: $100 (general bottle) – $150+ (highly rated)
DSP Codes: DSP-KY-113
Mash Bill: Varies by barrel
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