Buffalo Trace · Release Guide
Buffalo Trace O.F.C.
A year-by-year cheat sheet for the Old Fashioned Copper Series
Buffalo Trace's O.F.C. Vintages program started as a charity-only release. The 1980, 1982, and 1983 vintages went straight from the warehouse to nonprofits, museums, and hospitals, who auctioned them off to fund their work. Demand ran so far ahead of supply that Buffalo Trace opened the program to retail in 2018, beginning with the 1985, 1989, and 1990 vintages at $2,500 MSRP, and 1993 through 1995 followed at the same price. Each vintage is its own small lot of barrels laid down decades ago and bottled when the distillery decides the moment is right. Crystal decanters. Individually serial-numbered. A limited allocation for each year.
For collectors and enthusiasts, that's where the chase gets unusual. You don't watch your local shop for these. You watch auction calendars, charity benefits, the secondary market. A 1985 vintage drinks like the year it came off the still; a 1993 sits in a different decade entirely. Below is the working reference we keep at Cana, every O.F.C. vintage in order, with distillation year, bottling year, proof, age, and the production notes that explain what each one actually is and how it found its way out of the warehouse.
Explore The Releases
Every O.F.C. Release, by the numbers.
| Vintage Year | Release Year | Size | Proof | Abv | Age | Bottles | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR1980 | RELEASE YEAR2016 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGENAS | BOTTLES100 | NOTESFirst-ever O.F.C. Vintage release (Fall 2016). 200 total bottles across 1980/1982/1983 vintages distributed at no charge to 200 vetted non-profits for fundraising. Combined effort raised $1,196,687. Barrels were ~20 years old when dumped (then held in stainless steel). Hand-cut crystal bottle with copper lettering in wooden display box with provenance card. Mashbill unknown (pre-1992 acquisition). | |
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Notes First-ever O.F.C. Vintage release (Fall 2016). 200 total bottles across 1980/1982/1983 vintages distributed at no charge to 200 vetted non-profits for fundraising. Combined effort raised $1,196,687. Barrels were ~20 years old when dumped (then held in stainless steel). Hand-cut crystal bottle with copper lettering in wooden display box with provenance card. Mashbill unknown (pre-1992 acquisition). |
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| VINTAGE YEAR1982 | RELEASE YEAR2016 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGENAS | BOTTLES50 | NOTESPart of inaugural Fall 2016 charity release alongside 1980 and 1983 vintages. Distilled at George T. Stagg Distillery (now Buffalo Trace). Per 2022 6L NFT release: 1982 barrels were inventoried in 1998, vatted into stainless steel tanks in 2001 at 19 years old to halt further oak aging. | |
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Notes Part of inaugural Fall 2016 charity release alongside 1980 and 1983 vintages. Distilled at George T. Stagg Distillery (now Buffalo Trace). Per 2022 6L NFT release: 1982 barrels were inventoried in 1998, vatted into stainless steel tanks in 2001 at 19 years old to halt further oak aging. |
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| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR1983 | RELEASE YEAR2016 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGENAS | BOTTLES50 | NOTESPart of inaugural Fall 2016 charity-only release. Hand-cut crystal bottle with inlaid copper lettering, paper label hand-applied, wooden display box with provenance card. | |
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Notes Part of inaugural Fall 2016 charity-only release. Hand-cut crystal bottle with inlaid copper lettering, paper label hand-applied, wooden display box with provenance card. |
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| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR1985 | RELEASE YEAR2018 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGENAS | BOTTLES61 | NOTESSpring 2018 release. Single-barrel bottling. Part of trio (1985/1989/1990) totaling 142 bottles. Hand-cut crystal bottle with copper lettering and wooden display box. | |
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Notes Spring 2018 release. Single-barrel bottling. Part of trio (1985/1989/1990) totaling 142 bottles. Hand-cut crystal bottle with copper lettering and wooden display box. |
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| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR1989 | RELEASE YEAR2018 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGENAS | BOTTLES18 | NOTESSpring 2018 release. Single-barrel bottling - smallest count in the spring trio. Part of trio (1985/1989/1990) totaling 142 bottles. | |
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Notes Spring 2018 release. Single-barrel bottling - smallest count in the spring trio. Part of trio (1985/1989/1990) totaling 142 bottles. |
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| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR1990 | RELEASE YEAR2018 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGENAS | BOTTLES63 | NOTESSpring 2018 release. Single-barrel bottling. Largest count in the spring trio. Part of trio (1985/1989/1990) totaling 142 bottles. | |
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Notes Spring 2018 release. Single-barrel bottling. Largest count in the spring trio. Part of trio (1985/1989/1990) totaling 142 bottles. |
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| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR1993 | RELEASE YEAR2018 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGE25yr | BOTTLES822 | NOTESReleased December 2018; press release dated November 20, 2018. Distilled and rolled into warehouse in 1993; aged 25 years. Tasting notes: dark cherry, honey, smoked oak on nose; caramel, toasted vanilla, cocoa on palate; coffee, maple syrup, oak finish. Hand-cut crystal bottle with copper lettering, wooden display box with provenance card. | |
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Notes Released December 2018; press release dated November 20, 2018. Distilled and rolled into warehouse in 1993; aged 25 years. Tasting notes: dark cherry, honey, smoked oak on nose; caramel, toasted vanilla, cocoa on palate; coffee, maple syrup, oak finish. Hand-cut crystal bottle with copper lettering, wooden display box with provenance card. |
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| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR1994 | RELEASE YEAR2019 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGE25yr | BOTTLES1085 | NOTESPress release dated October 31, 2019; began reaching stores in late November 2019. Distilled and rolled into warehouse to rest in 1994, aged 25 years. Tasting notes: lots of cherry, butterscotch, brown sugar, oak on nose; toasted caramel, cinnamon, oak on palate; long finish of coffee, herbs, oak. Hand-cut crystal bottle, copper lettering, wooden display box, provenance card listing 1994 milestones. | |
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Notes Press release dated October 31, 2019; began reaching stores in late November 2019. Distilled and rolled into warehouse to rest in 1994, aged 25 years. Tasting notes: lots of cherry, butterscotch, brown sugar, oak on nose; toasted caramel, cinnamon, oak on palate; long finish of coffee, herbs, oak. Hand-cut crystal bottle, copper lettering, wooden display box, provenance card listing 1994 milestones. |
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| VINTAGE YEAR1995 | RELEASE YEAR2020 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGE25yr | BOTTLES1500 | NOTESPress release dated November 17, 2020; began reaching stores December 2020. Distilled in 1995, aged 25 years. Tasting notes: cherry cordial on nose followed by caramel and slightly smoked-oak; dark chocolate, tobacco leaves, and dates on palate; lingering finish of leather, black pepper, and cinnamon. Hand-cut crystal bottle with inlaid real copper lettering, hand-applied paper label, wooden display box with provenance card noting 1995 milestones. | |
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Notes Press release dated November 17, 2020; began reaching stores December 2020. Distilled in 1995, aged 25 years. Tasting notes: cherry cordial on nose followed by caramel and slightly smoked-oak; dark chocolate, tobacco leaves, and dates on palate; lingering finish of leather, black pepper, and cinnamon. Hand-cut crystal bottle with inlaid real copper lettering, hand-applied paper label, wooden display box with provenance card noting 1995 milestones. |
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| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR1996 | RELEASE YEAR2021 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGE25yr | BOTTLES945 | NOTESDistilled 1996, bottled 2021, aged 25 years to match the 1993-1995 cadence. Hand-cut crystal decanter with copper lettering, retail tier at 90 proof / 45% ABV. Limited US allocation with notable UK export distribution. By this point the program had fully transitioned from charity-only to retail, though allocations remained very tight. | |
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Notes Distilled 1996, bottled 2021, aged 25 years to match the 1993-1995 cadence. Hand-cut crystal decanter with copper lettering, retail tier at 90 proof / 45% ABV. Limited US allocation with notable UK export distribution. By this point the program had fully transitioned from charity-only to retail, though allocations remained very tight. |
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| VINTAGE YEAR1982 | RELEASE YEAR2022 | SIZE6 Liter | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGE19yr | BOTTLES5 | NOTESPart of inaugural Fall 2016 charity release alongside 1980 and 1983 vintages. Distilled at George T. Stagg Distillery (now Buffalo Trace). Per 2022 6L NFT release: 1982 barrels were inventoried in 1998, vatted into stainless steel tanks in 2001 at 19 years old to halt further oak aging. | |
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Notes Part of inaugural Fall 2016 charity release alongside 1980 and 1983 vintages. Distilled at George T. Stagg Distillery (now Buffalo Trace). Per 2022 6L NFT release: 1982 barrels were inventoried in 1998, vatted into stainless steel tanks in 2001 at 19 years old to halt further oak aging. |
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| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR2005 | RELEASE YEAR2023 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGE18yr | BOTTLES1350 | NOTESDistilled 2005, bottled 2023, aged ~18 years - first OFC to break from the 25-year cadence established by the 1993-1996 lineup. Same hand-cut crystal decanter and 90 proof standard. Retail tier with very limited allocation. Marks the program's shift toward younger vintage years as 1990s stocks tightened. | |
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Notes Distilled 2005, bottled 2023, aged ~18 years - first OFC to break from the 25-year cadence established by the 1993-1996 lineup. Same hand-cut crystal decanter and 90 proof standard. Retail tier with very limited allocation. Marks the program's shift toward younger vintage years as 1990s stocks tightened. |
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| View releaseVINTAGE YEAR2006 | RELEASE YEAR2024 | SIZE750ml | PROOF90 | ABV45 | AGE18yr | BOTTLESNot Disclosed | NOTESDistilled 2006, bottled 2024, aged ~18 years following the younger-vintage cadence set by 2005. Hand-cut crystal decanter at 90 proof / 45% ABV. Retail tier with very limited allocation. Companion release to the 2005 vintage, sourced from adjacent distillation years as the program works through more recent stock. | |
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Notes Distilled 2006, bottled 2024, aged ~18 years following the younger-vintage cadence set by 2005. Hand-cut crystal decanter at 90 proof / 45% ABV. Retail tier with very limited allocation. Companion release to the 2005 vintage, sourced from adjacent distillation years as the program works through more recent stock. |
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How to read this table
Proof is bottle proof, uncut and unfiltered. Age is years and months from the day it entered the barrel to the day it was bottled. Warehouse is the rickhouse letter where the barrels matured — multiple letters mean a release was a blend of barrels from more than one rickhouse. Floor is the floor (or floors) those barrels rested on. Higher floors run hotter and yield more aggressive evaporation; lower floors are cooler and slower.
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