This expression of Ancient Age was bottled at 86 proof and exported for the Japanese market. Ancient Age Bourbon was introduced in 1946 by Schenley at the George T. Stagg distillery (today’s Buffalo Trace). In 1983, Age International purchased the George T. Stagg distillery and its brands. The Japanese company Takara Shuzo Co. took over Age International in 1992 and immediately sold George T. Stagg to Sazerac, but retained ownership of the distillery’s brands. This is how it came to be that several of Buffalo Trace’s largest brands, including Blanton’s, Ancient Age, Elmer T. Lee, Hancock’s Reserve and Rock Hill Farms, are not actually owned by the distillery itself. The more you know!
