After a decade, Buffalo Trace offers a chance at a barrel of this coveted bourbon
Like a chance a whole barrel of coveted Elmer T. Lee bourbon?
Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort is again offering a sweepstakes through the Sazerac Single Barrel Select Team that will let fans snag a barrel of the bourbon named for the famed master distiller.
“Elmer T. Lee is often called the ‘father’ of single barrel bourbon and for good reason — he’s the creator of both Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon and the original Sazerac Barrel Select program,” said Diego Bianchi, Sazerac Barrel Select general manager, in a news release. “The last single barrel of Elmer T. Lee was selected 10 years ago, and fans have requested this rare barrel offering since; some even reminisce about selecting barrels alongside Elmer. This is a fantastic opportunity to offer this brand to single barrel enthusiasts, and we are proud to once again support St. Jude.”
Tickets are $100 each to enter, with proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Last year’s event, involving a barrel of Blanton’s Gold bourbon, raised $1 million for St. Jude’s, and Buffalo Trace is hoping to top that this year.
The prize package also includes a one-night stay in Stagg Lodge, a VIP behind-the-scenes tour and private catered lunch at the distillery for the winner and up to seven guests ages 21 or older, a private barrel selection experience with master distiller Harlen Wheatley, who was trained by Lee after joining Buffalo Trace in 1995. The winner also gets an $18,000 cash prize, which may be used to purchase the bottles from the selected barrel with personalized medallions.
“I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with Elmer both at work and away from work, often listening to his many stories about the industry,” Wheatley said in the news release. “It was a privilege to work with Elmer, and I understood that when I was with him. I’m proud to call Elmer a friend, mentor, and trusted advisor, and I’m honored to continue sharing his legacy through this charity sweepstakes program.”
To register, go to sazeracbarrelselect.com/charity.
The sweepstakes opens 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8; all entries must be received before midnight Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. You get one entry for every $100 donation made through the registration site. The winner will be randomly drawn and notified via phone and email the week of Monday, Oct. 6.
Widely considered a 20th century bourbon pioneer, Lee joined the George T. Stagg Distillery, known today as Buffalo Trace Distillery, in 1949 as a maintenance engineer, and eventually became plant manager and master distiller. In 1984, he introduced Blanton’s — the world’s first single-barrel bourbon. Two years later, following his retirement, Lee was honored with his own namesake release: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of clove, vanilla and old leather. On the palate, it’s fruit, honey and vanilla with a light spiciness.
