Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof 2026: Price, Proof, Lottery & How to Get a Bottle
Buffalo Trace just announced one of the most interesting bourbon releases of 2026.
For the 40th anniversary of Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon, Buffalo Trace Distillery is releasing the first-ever Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof.
This is not simply another commemorative bottle.
The new 40th Anniversary Edition is being released uncut and unfiltered, with individual barrels ranging from 124.8 to 138.6 proof.
It carries a suggested retail price of $100 and will initially be available through a Buffalo Trace online bottle drawing.
And if you want one, the most important date is already here.
Registration begins September 15, 2026.
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Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof 2026 Quick Facts
Here’s what we know about the new release:
- Name: Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
- Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Proof: 124.8 to 138.6 proof
- ABV: 62.4% to 69.3%
- Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2
- Age Statement: None
- Filtration: Uncut and unfiltered
- MSRP: $100
- Lottery Registration: September 15 through September 17, 2026
- Drawing: September 22, 2026
- Purchase Window: September 28 through October 11, 2026
- Purchase Location: Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop in Frankfort, Kentucky
Individual barrels will vary in proof, which makes this release especially interesting for anyone who enjoys comparing single barrels at full strength.
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Why Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof Is a Big Deal
Elmer T. Lee has been around for decades, but Buffalo Trace has never released the bourbon like this.
The standard Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel is bottled at 90 proof.
The 40th Anniversary Edition skips the proofing-down process and presents the whiskey straight from the barrel.
That puts some bottles at nearly 140 proof.
This is the first uncut and unfiltered barrel-proof Elmer T. Lee release in the brand’s history.
For a bourbon already difficult to find in its standard form, a one-time anniversary release at barrel proof should immediately become one of the more sought-after Buffalo Trace bottles of the year.
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Celebrating 40 Years of Elmer T. Lee Bourbon
The release marks 40 years since Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel debuted in 1986.
Elmer T. Lee played a major role in shaping the premium bourbon market.
One of his biggest contributions came in 1984 when he helped launch Blanton’s Single Barrel, helping establish the premium single-barrel bourbon category that has become such a major part of the whiskey industry.
Buffalo Trace later honored Lee with his own namesake bourbon after his retirement.
He remained involved with Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel and continued selecting barrels later in his life.
That makes a barrel-proof release a fitting way to celebrate the bottle’s 40th anniversary.
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Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof Uses Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2
The 40th Anniversary Edition is made using Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2.
Buffalo Trace does not publicly disclose the exact grain percentages in the recipe.
Mash Bill #2 is also associated with bottles including Blanton’s Single Barrel, making comparisons between the two inevitable.
The major difference here is proof.
Instead of experiencing Mash Bill #2 at the standard 90 proof of Elmer T. Lee, these barrels will land anywhere from 124.8 to 138.6 proof.
That should provide a much more concentrated look at what this Buffalo Trace recipe can deliver straight from the barrel.
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What Does Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof Taste Like?
I have not tasted the new Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof, so this is not a review.
Buffalo Trace’s published tasting notes include aromas of:
- Apricot
- Almond
- Vanilla
- Coconut
- Honeysuckle
The palate is described as bringing crème brûlée, toasted oak and spice.
Because this remains a single-barrel bourbon and proof varies significantly from barrel to barrel, expect some bottle-to-bottle differences.
That variation may end up being one of the most interesting parts of the release.
A 124.8-proof barrel and a 138.6-proof barrel could offer noticeably different experiences even though both carry the same Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary name.
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How Much Is Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof?
The suggested retail price is $100, excluding applicable taxes and fees.
For a special Buffalo Trace release, that price is going to attract plenty of attention.
The bigger problem will not be deciding whether it is worth $100.
It will be getting the opportunity to buy one.
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How to Enter the Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof Lottery
Buffalo Trace is using an online bottle-draw system for the release rather than simply putting bottles into its normal daily gift shop rotation.
Here are the dates you need to know.
September 15
Registration opens at 10:00 a.m.
September 17
Registration closes at 11:59 p.m.
Only one entry per person is allowed.
September 22
Winners will be randomly selected, and entrants will be notified of the results.
September 28 through October 11
Winners can purchase their bottle in person at Buffalo Trace Distillery during the designated pickup window.
If you’re planning to enter, I would not wait until the final evening to register.
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Can Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof Be Shipped?
Based on the release information announced so far, no direct shipping option has been announced.
Winners receive the opportunity to purchase a bottle and must complete that purchase in person at the Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop in Frankfort, Kentucky between September 28 and October 11.
That is an important distinction.
Winning the draw does not mean a bottle automatically arrives at your house.
If you enter, make sure a trip to Buffalo Trace during the pickup period is realistic before celebrating the win.
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Is This Replacing Buffalo Trace’s Daily Allocated Bottle Releases?
No.
The bottle-draw system is intended for special limited releases and does not replace Buffalo Trace’s normal daily bottle rotation program.
That could make this release important beyond Elmer T. Lee.
If Buffalo Trace considers the system successful, we could potentially see future highly limited bottles distributed through similar drawings.
For now, however, that remains something to watch rather than something Buffalo Trace has confirmed.
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Is Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof Worth Chasing?
At $100 retail, absolutely worth entering the draw in my opinion.
Whether it is worth paying a massive secondary-market premium later is a completely different question.
Elmer T. Lee is already one of Buffalo Trace’s harder-to-find bottles.
Add the 40th anniversary, the first barrel-proof treatment in brand history, single-barrel variation and proofs reaching 138.6, and demand is going to be enormous.
But the most exciting part of this bottle should be the whiskey itself.
For years, bourbon drinkers have experienced Elmer T. Lee at 90 proof.
This release finally gives us the chance to see what those barrels can deliver without being proofed down before bottling.
That alone makes Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof one of the Buffalo Trace releases I most want to taste in 2026.
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Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof FAQ
What proof is Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof?
Individual bottles will range from 124.8 to 138.6 proof, or 62.4% to 69.3% ABV.
How much does Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof cost?
The suggested retail price is $100, excluding applicable taxes and fees.
When does the Elmer T. Lee lottery open?
Registration opens September 15, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. and closes September 17 at 11:59 p.m.
When are Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof winners announced?
The drawing will take place September 22, 2026, with entrants notified of the results.
Where can winners buy Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof?
Winners can purchase their bottle at the Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop in Frankfort, Kentuckybetween September 28 and October 11, 2026.
What mash bill does Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof use?
The bourbon uses Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2, the same mash bill associated with Blanton’s Single Barrel.
Is Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof age stated?
No. The 40th Anniversary Edition is a non-age-stated bourbon.
Is this the first barrel-proof Elmer T. Lee?
Yes. The 40th Anniversary Edition is the first uncut and unfiltered barrel-proof release in Elmer T. Lee history.
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Final Thoughts
Buffalo Trace could have celebrated Elmer T. Lee’s 40th anniversary with another special label or commemorative package.
Instead, it gave bourbon drinkers something genuinely different.
Elmer T. Lee Barrel Proof takes one of Buffalo Trace’s most recognizable single-barrel bourbons and finally lets it out of the barrel without proofing it down to the familiar 90 proof.
At $100, with individual barrels ranging from 124.8 to 138.6 proof, this is going to be a serious bottle to hunt.
Just remember the first hunt happens online.
Registration opens September 15 at 10:00 a.m.
If you land one, I want to know what proof you get.
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Stay Ahead of the Next Bourbon Drop
Limited Buffalo Trace releases can move fast, and sometimes the difference between getting a shot and missing completely is simply knowing about the bottle early.
Join the membership for more bourbon release news, bottle hunts, whiskey picks, reviews and the releases actually worth chasing.
Good luck in the draw.
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