Traveller Full Proof Whiskey
The Stats
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Location: Frankfort, KY
- Type: Blended Whiskey
- Style: Full Proof
- Proof: 125 Proof
- Age: NAS
- Mash Bill: Undisclosed
- Release: Ongoing
- MSRP: $40
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Traveller Full Proof doesn’t try to replace the original release. It builds on it, same core idea, but with more intensity, more proof, and a push toward something that feels a little more serious. The question is simple. Does turning up the proof actually elevate the whiskey, or does it just amplify what was already there?
Positioned as a higher-proof extension of the Traveller line, this release aims to bring more depth and character to a profile that originally leaned soft and approachable. More proof should mean more flavor, more structure, and more presence. But it also means less room for error. At this level, imbalance shows up quickly, and the line between bold and messy gets thin.
A Familiar Name, A Bigger Swing
Traveller, tied to Chris Stapleton, was designed to be accessible first. Full Proof shifts that expectation. It still carries the same identity, but with a clear intent to offer something more expressive.
What you get is a profile that feels like it’s trying to stretch beyond its original lane. There’s traditional bourbon sweetness at the core, but it’s layered with a spice-forward, slightly unconventional edge that doesn’t always resolve cleanly. It’s not fully classic, and it’s not pushing far enough to feel experimental. It sits somewhere in between.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Inviting and easygoing. Vanilla and caramel lead, followed by cherry and a hint of jammy fruit. A toasted note, graham cracker, and light char add depth, with a subtle dusty edge in the background. Not aged, just slightly muted. Balanced and easy to revisit.
Taste
Caramel and vanilla up front, quickly shifting to baking spice and cinnamon with a rye-like kick. Darker cherry and a graham cracker sweetness round out the mid-palate.
There’s complexity, but it’s not always cohesive. Slightly grain-forward at times, with ethanol pushing through. It improves as it opens, richer and more integrated, but never fully seamless.
Finish
Medium length with lingering spice and steady warmth. Light oak, a touch of tannin, and a faint earthy note show up late. It hangs around, but stays a bit rough around the edges.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
6 / 10 - Above Average
Traveller Full Proof is a step up in intensity, but not a complete step forward in balance. There’s real flavor here, along with a profile that offers more depth than the original. But it also brings more edge, more spice, more ethanol, and moments where the structure doesn’t quite come together.
At around $40, the value is strong. Full proof whiskey at this price with this level of flavor makes it an easy bottle to try. It may not convert everyone, but it does make Traveller more interesting.
And for a line that started on the softer side, that’s a meaningful shift.
