Buffalo Trace O.F.C. 1996 is one of the distillery's O.F.C. Vintages, an ultra-limited series of single-vintage bourbons that rank among the most coveted bottles in American whiskey. Distilled in 1996 and presented in a crystal decanter inside an illuminated wooden display case, it is a true collector's piece.
The O.F.C. Vintages take their name from the Old Fashioned Copper Distillery, founded by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. in 1870 on the site that is now Buffalo Trace. Taylor's distillery was celebrated for its copper stills, fermenters and warehouses, and the O.F.C. releases honour that heritage. The series began with a small run of bottles given to non-profit organisations, and Buffalo Trace has since released vintages from 1980s and 1990s distillations in very small numbers, each from a single year's whiskey.
Each O.F.C. vintage is bottled in a hand-cut, bevelled crystal decanter with the distillation year on its label, and arrives in a wooden display case with a provenance card recalling events from the year the whiskey was distilled. The 1996 vintage carries the year in gold on the label and is bottled at 90 proof, letting decades of deep oak and dark fruit come through with a smooth, elegant texture. With so few bottles released and many already opened or held in private collections, the O.F.C. 1996 is rarely offered for sale.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Cherry cordial, followed by caramel and lightly smoked oak.
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Palate: Dark chocolate, tobacco leaf and dates.
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Finish: Leather, black pepper and cinnamon.
Specifications
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Producer: Buffalo Trace Distillery
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Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
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Expression / Batch: O.F.C. Vintage 1996
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Age: Distilled 1996
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Proof / ABV: 90 proof (45% ABV)
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Region: Kentucky, USA
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
A bourbon of this rarity deserves an occasion. Pour a small measure neat into a Glencairn or tulip glass and let it rest for a few minutes so the cherry and caramel can open before the darker chocolate and tobacco notes arrive. A single drop of water can soften the oak. Pair it with dark chocolate or a well-aged cigar, and keep the illuminated case on display: it is as much a centrepiece as a whiskey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does O.F.C. stand for?
O.F.C. stands for Old Fashioned Copper, the distillery Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. founded in 1870 on the site that is now Buffalo Trace.
What proof is Buffalo Trace O.F.C. 1996?
It is bottled at 90 proof, or 45% ABV.
How is O.F.C. 1996 presented?
It comes in a hand-cut crystal decanter inside a wooden display case, with a provenance card about its distillation year.
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