Originally published June 2024. Updated March 2026.
Elmer T. Lee is one of those bottles that has quietly been a benchmark in the Buffalo Trace lineup for years. Named after the master distiller who helped bring Blanton’s to market as the first commercially available single barrel bourbon, ETL carries some real history in the bottle. It runs on Mash Bill #2, which sits between 12 and 15 percent rye, and while it carries no age statement, most believe it is sitting somewhere in the five to seven year range.
Bottle
First crack on this L24 bottle gave a satisfying pop. No smoke, which I have come to expect from ETL. Honestly, the pop alone earns something. The absence of that wax seal smoke keeps it from a perfect score here. 3/5.
Nose
This is where Elmer consistently delivers. Fresh strawberries, maraschino cherries, a hint of citrus that lands somewhere between lemon and lime soda. It is light and approachable in a way that reminds you of a well-made Irish whiskey more than a traditional heavy bourbon. With a little time in the glass, a soft grape note shows up in the background along with a faint vanilla. Inviting without being aggressive. 4/5.
Palate
Classic Buffalo Trace structure here. Cherry leads, specifically tart cherry up front that deepens into something closer to a dark cocktail cherry on the second sip. Baking spice shows up alongside subtle hints of cinnamon and oak. The caramel you might expect from a wheated bourbon is largely absent, which lets the fruit and spice breathe more than you would expect. There is also a savory note hiding in the background, almost a barbecue quality, that adds some complexity. The mouthfeel runs medium to thin, which is the one area where the 90 proof bottling strength starts to show its ceiling. 3.5/5.
Finish
Baking spices, brown sugar, and a lingering cherry spike close it out. Drying oak tannins and a touch of orange peel balance the sweetness without overpowering it. Medium length. Clean exit. 3/5.
Overall Score: 3.375/5
The Sprite Experiment: How Elmer T. Lee Used to Drink It
This one came up on a recent video and I had to try it. Apparently Elmer T. Lee himself preferred his whiskey with a splash of Sprite. One ounce of ETL, just enough Sprite to give it some flavor without running over the whiskey. So I cracked a fresh L24 and found out.
Honest take: it tastes like whiskey water with a touch of lime. That is not an insult. The bourbon does not disappear. It smooths out into something dangerously drinkable. You cannot taste the alcohol. There is a full ounce of bourbon in the glass and it registers as a casual summer sipper. The cherry and citrus notes that ETL already carries play well with the Sprite without getting lost in it.
If you are someone who writes off cocktails with bourbon, try this one before you get on your high horse. It is genuinely solid, especially in warm weather. And yes, I used ice. Come find me.
Value and Where the Market Stands Right Now
Here is where things get interesting in 2026.
Buffalo Trace updated the MSRP on Elmer T. Lee this year. New suggested retail is $89.99. That is a significant jump from where it sat before, and it is not accidental. ETL recently joined the Buffalo Trace Barrel Select program alongside Hancock’s Reserve and Rock Hill Farms. My read on that move is that Buffalo Trace is deliberately raising the profile of these bottles before store pick releases start hitting shelves, and before the limited edition cask strength 40th anniversary expression drops. Whether anyone outside of the most connected accounts actually gets their hands on that anniversary bottle is a separate conversation.
At $89.99, your realistic floor is full retail. The days of finding ETL at the old $40 price point are gone, and any store still sitting on that price either has very old inventory or has not updated their system yet. Your best shot at a few dollars off is Costco, and even that is not guaranteed. Secondary has been softening in Colorado with our recent quarterly allocation drop, and I have watched it sit on tables at MSRP the day after big store announcements, which was not something you saw a year ago.
The honest value verdict at $89.99 is this. It is a good bourbon. It scores a 3.375 out of 5 for a reason. But at nearly ninety dollars you are paying for the name, the history, and whatever premium Buffalo Trace is building toward with the Barrel Select program. If you find it at retail and you want to drink it, buy it. If you are hoping to find a deal, that ship has sailed. And if your only option is secondary above retail, find a bar that pours it and let someone else eat the cost.
ETL has not gotten worse. The price floor just moved up and it is not coming back down.