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Exclusive: Buffalo Trace To Continue Producing Elmer T. Lee Bourbon
September 13, 2013 – When Buffalo Trace’s Master Distiller Emeritus Elmer T. Lee passed away on July 16 at the age of 93, Bourbon lovers around the world mourned the loss of one of Kentucky’s legendary distillers. At the time of his passing, he was one of three living distillers to have Bourbons named after them, along with Jimmy Russell and Parker Beam.
In the weeks that followed, we started receiving questions from listeners about whether Buffalo Trace would continue to produce Elmer T. Lee Bourbon, especially since his agreement with the distillery’s owners was that he would be allowed to personally select the casks for the whiskey that carried his name.
During an interview today with Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace’s current Master Distiller, he confirmed the distillery’s plans to continue Elmer’s legacy:
“We never considered stopping it…in fact, we’re even more passionate about it than ever.”
The distillery had remained silent on the question, not because there was any thought of retiring the brand, but because they didn’t think there was any doubt that they would continue on in Elmer’s memory.
Elmer T. Lee Bourbon is a single barrel Bourbon, in the tradition that Elmer started in 1984 when he came up with the idea for Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon in honor of Col. Albert Blanton, who became the president of what was then known as the George T. Stagg Distillery in 1921 and led it until his death in 1959.
Links: Buffalo Trace
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