Hey there, bourbon lovers! It’s DamianJay here, and welcome to another episode of Bourbon, Bass, and Barbells. Today, I’m excited to dive into the Mash Bill 2 line from Buffalo Trace. Let’s get started!
The Quest for the “Infinity Stones”
After a long journey, I finally got my hands on all four of the coveted bottles from the Mash Bill 2 line: Hancock’s Reserve, Elmer T. Lee, Blanton’s, and Rock Hill Farms. A huge shoutout to Frank in Denver, Colorado, for trading a couple of bottles with me to complete this collection.
The Setup
Apologies for the makeshift setup today. My wife is out of town, the dogs are in the other room, and we’re in the middle of getting a dog door installed, which has let in some unwelcome flies. But let’s not let that distract us. I’ve got my water ready, and the four bourbons lined up for a blind tasting.
Tasting the Mash Bill 2 Line
1. Hancock’s Reserve (88.9 proof)
- Nose: Brown sugar, cherry, grape
- Taste: Maraschino cherry, mild oak, slight ethanol note
The first glass offered delightful notes of brown sugar and cherry. Its mild oak presence and slight ethanol finish made me think it was Hancock’s Reserve.
2. Elmer T. Lee (90 proof)
- Nose: Dark fruit, vanilla
- Taste: Cherry, plum, clove, typical Buffalo Trace flavors
Moving to the second glass, the darker fruit notes and a hint of clove suggested this might be the Elmer T. Lee. It shared the grape and cherry flavors with the first, but was more vanilla-forward.
3. Blanton’s (93 proof)
- Nose: Corn, young ethanol
- Taste: Corn-forward, oak, youthful burn
The third glass had a more corn-forward nose and youthful ethanol presence, making me guess it was Blanton’s. Its taste was less sweet, more bitter, and slightly more oaky.
4. Rock Hill Farms (100 proof)
- Nose: Cherry, grape, light aroma
- Taste: Light, dark fruit, minimal finish
The last glass returned to those familiar cherry and grape notes. Its light body and minimal finish initially led me to suspect it was Hancock’s again, but the dryness and cumulative tasting experience hinted it might be Rock Hill Farms.
The Reveal
To my surprise:
- First: Elmer T. Lee
- Second: Blanton’s
- Third: Rock Hill Farms
- Fourth: Hancock’s Reserve
The Infinity Bottle Experiment
Inspired by the idea of combining the best elements of each bourbon, I decided to create an “Infinity Bottle” by mixing equal parts of all four. The result was surprisingly harmonious, blending the sweetness, spice, and oak notes beautifully.
Final Thoughts
Each bourbon in the Mash Bill 2 line has its unique charm, but the Infinity Bottle blend brought out the best in all of them. Whether you enjoy them individually or try your own blend, these bourbons are sure to impress.
Thanks for joining me on this bourbon adventure. May your bourbon be rare, your bass deep, and your barbell heavy. Cheers!