Buffalo Trace OFC 1996 25 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Distilled 1996. Aged 25 years. The 1996 vintage in Buffalo Trace's Old Fire Copper series — an annual program releasing single-vintage bourbons in hand-cut crystal decanters, individually numbered, representing some of the oldest single-vintage Buffalo Trace productions commercially available.

OFC stands for Old Fire Copper — a name tracing to the original copper pot stills that Buffalo Trace's predecessor distillery used in the 19th century. The OFC series is Buffalo Trace's prestige vintage program: a specific year's production aged in the distillery's optimal warehouse conditions, held until the Master Distiller determines the barrels have reached peak maturity, then bottled in hand-cut crystal decanters and individually numbered.

The 1996 vintage spent 25 years in Buffalo Trace's rickhouses before bottling — a quarter century of Kentucky barrel cycling from the same distillery and same production year. At 25 years, Buffalo Trace's high-rye mash bill produces extraordinary depth: the grain spice fully integrated into the oak structure, the caramel and vanilla deepened to concentration, and the dried fruit complexity that only extended maturation achieves. The crystal decanter and individual numbering make each OFC bottle a complete provenance document and collectible object.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Very deep amber with the extraordinary concentration of 25-year Buffalo Trace maturation, displayed beautifully in the hand-cut crystal.
• Nose: Caramel, dried fruit, aged leather, and deep oak — the 1996 vintage at full 25-year maturity.
• Palate: Rich and concentrated — the high-rye Buffalo Trace character at 25-year depth. Dark fruit, warm spice, vanilla, and deep oak integration.
• Finish: Extraordinarily long — the quarter-century aging producing a finish that evolves through multiple stages.

Specs

• Distillery: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Vintage: 1996
• Age: 25 years
• Presentation: Hand-cut crystal decanter, individually numbered
• Series: OFC (Old Fire Copper)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does OFC stand for? Old Fire Copper — referencing the copper pot stills used by Buffalo Trace's 19th-century predecessor distillery. The name connects the modern OFC program to the original production heritage of the Frankfort, Kentucky site.
• How does OFC differ from Double Eagle Very Rare? Both are premium Buffalo Trace presentations in crystal decanters. Double Eagle Very Rare is always 20 years and released annually. OFC is vintage-specific — a single year's production held until peak maturity (which varies by vintage). The 1996 OFC reached 25 years; other vintages may be released at different ages depending on the Master Distiller's assessment.
• How does the OFC program select when to release a vintage? Buffalo Trace holds each OFC vintage until the Master Distiller determines the specific year's barrels have reached peak maturity. This means different vintages may be released at different ages — the 1996 at 25 years reflects that vintage's specific peak maturation point.
• Is the OFC 1996 still available? A rare find — vintage-specific OFC releases are produced in extremely limited quantities and not restocked.