Buffalo Trace Distillery Drops Coveted 5-Bottle Prohibition Collection Whiskey Set
The collectible, limited-edition release honors historic whiskey brands made during the medicinal spirits era.
Buffalo Trace has officially introduced the third edition of its sought-after Prohibition Collection. The annual, limited-edition release features a curated set of five bottles that celebrate the specific whiskeys legally distilled and distributed while the 18th Amendment was active. This latest rollout highlights five forgotten brands that were bottled under the guidance of President Albert B. Blanton at George T. Stagg Distillery, which is the historical name for the modern Buffalo Trace site.
Spanning 1920 to 1933, the Prohibition era stands as one of the most turbulent and troubled periods for the American spirits industry. While the vast majority of booze operations across the country were forced to permanently shutter, the U.S. government granted special licenses to just six distilleries to legally bottle medicinal whiskey for consumers holding a doctor prescription. George T. Stagg Distillery was among this elite group, keeping its stills and bottling lines running through the dry years.
The five featured brands in this collection include Henry Watterson, Kentucky River, John G. Carlisle, Walter B. Duffy, and Cove Spring. Each expression was developed using original packaging designs and historical archives to recreate the unique look and spirit of the era. The lineup offers a diverse range of styles, from an uncut and unfiltered Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey clocked at 140.6 proof to a 100 proof blend of Kentucky Straight Whiskeys, alongside structured bourbons and a wheated recipe expression.
The entire set is presented in a custom wooden display case adorned with archival imagery, and each bottle features a packaging design that includes the distinctive prescription cut-out once utilized by physicians.
“The Prohibition Collection gives us the opportunity to bring important chapters of our Distillery’s history back to life,” said Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley in a statement announcing the release. “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 Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection #3 will be available in highly limited quantities at select retailers, bars, and restaurants for a suggested retail price of $999.99 for the five-bottle set.