Buffalo Trace Revives 5 Historic Whiskey Brands in Its New Prohibition Collection

From 1920 through 1933, the 18th Amendment banned the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States, marking the Prohibition era. While the amendment effectively outlawed the manufacturing of spirits, six distilleries were granted exemptions to bottle medicinal whiskey, including the centuries-old producer known today as Buffalo Trace.

This summer, the famed Kentucky distillery is releasing its third Prohibition Collection, a box set of five whiskeys honoring brands from the bygone chapter of the era. This year’s collection is a wide variety of whiskey expressions, including the highest-proof rye in Buffalo Trace’s modern history.

The first iteration of the Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection was released in late 2023 and revived five Prohibition-era brands, including Golden Wedding Rye. A second edition followed in early 2025, featuring five additional brands. The 2026 Prohibition Collection returns with five more whiskeys that pay homage to historic brands sold by what was previously known as the George T. Stagg Distillery, today called Buffalo Trace. 

The bottles in each collection are inspired by historic labels and documents from Buffalo Trace’s archives, while the whiskeys are blended from the distillery’s contemporary stocks. The 2026 selection will include:

Henry Watterson Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Bottled uncut and unfiltered at 140.6 proof, this whiskey is named for U.S. Congressman and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Henry Watterson, a staunch opponent of Prohibition. Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley tells Food & Wine this is the highest-proof rye released in the distillery’s modern history. Brand tasting notes highlight a palate rich in rye spice, citrus peel, cedarwood, and herbs. According to Wheatley, the uncommonly high proof “amplifies the bold spice, complexity, and depth of flavor that make rye whiskey so distinctive.” 

Kentucky River Whiskey

A blend of Kentucky straight whiskeys, this expression is bottled at 100 proof. It’s named for the Kentucky River Distillery, once known as Carlisle Distillery, which eventually became a part of Buffalo Trace. The brand's tasting notes spotlight “honeyed grain, vanilla, and caramelized sugar” on the nose before a palate rich in baked apple, oak, and warm pastry. 

John G. Carlisle Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

A 100-proof, bottled-in-bond bourbon, this spirit is named for U.S. Congressman John Carlisle, long celebrated as a key proponent of the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act. Listed tasting notes describe a “classic bourbon structure” with rye spice, toasted nuts, orchard fruit, and “subtle tropical notes balanced by vanilla, oak, and warm baking spices.”

Walter B. Duffy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bottled at 107 proof, the modern Walter B. Duffy is a blend of 10- and 14-year-old Kentucky straight bourbons. It’s named for Walter B. Duffy, who became owner of O.F.C. Distillery following George T. Stagg’s death in 1893. Duffy delegated the distillery’s operations to Albert B. Blanton. The whiskey features tasting notes of graham cracker, toasted corn, dried figs, raisins, and dates before a “long, refined finish.”

Cove Spring Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Named for an early distillery water source, this whiskey is distilled from Buffalo Trace’s wheated bourbon mashbill, the same recipe used to produce the W.L. Weller and Pappy Van Winkle bourbon lines. It was bottled uncut and unfiltered at 120.2 proof. According to Buffalo Trace, the nose opens with red cherry and toasted coconut before yielding a rich, fruit-forward palate “layered with sweet corn and spice.” 

All five limited-edition whiskeys are sold as a set in 375 mL bottles. The collection also comes with a wooden display case, archival imagery, and cartons that mimic Prohibition-style packaging with medicinal labels. In addition to commemorative labels, each bottle includes a bronze strip featuring the proof, series number, and Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection logo. 

“The Prohibition Collection gives us the opportunity to bring important chapters of our distillery’s history back to life,” Wheatley shared in a press statement. Per the master distiller, “Each year, we uncover stories, brands, and whiskey traditions that might otherwise have been lost to time. By reimagining these historic whiskeys, we honor the resilience, ingenuity, and determination that carried this distillery through one of the most challenging periods in American whiskey history and helped shape the legacy we continue today.”

The 2026 Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection is a highly limited release that begins distribution this June. Sold as a five-bottle set, the collection will be available at select bars, restaurants, and stores through parent company Sazerac’s distribution network. The set carries a suggested retail price of $999.99 for a taste of history.