Elmer T. Lee is a name synonymous with bourbon – he was a man, a myth, and a legend all in one and above all a visionary who transformed the bourbon industry. Lee’s journey from truly humble beginnings to legend status is a course that tracks the quintessential American dream. In this week’s post we’ll review his contributions to bourbon, the various expressions of Elmer T. Lee bourbon (yes there’s more than one), and their current market valuations as detailed in the Bourbon Blue Book®. Join Bourboneur as we delve into the legacy of a true bourbon pioneer.
For many Elmer T Lee likely seems a historical figure, someone in the distant past who left their legacy on the bourbon industry, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Elmer did however live a long and full life, having been born in 1919 and passing away at the ripe old age of 94 just over a decade ago in 2013. Elmer T Lee was a legendary figure in the bourbon business and began his career at the George T. Stagg Distillery which you’ll now know today as the Buffalo Trace Distillery, where he served as a maintenance engineer following a stint in the military as a radar bombardier during World War II. Elmer’s story is the quintessential American story, working hard and rising through the ranks working his way up to plant superintendent, then plant manager, and eventually finding himself as a master distiller.
Elmer was the man who brought the world Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon in 1984, which many will recall was the first bourbon truly marketed as a “single barrel” bourbon. In some ways, this was a watershed moment for the bourbon industry as it played a large part in shaping the trajectory the industry has been on in the decades following the release. Following their lease in 1984, just a year later, Elmer retired. Buffalo Trace later honored him with his own single-barrel bourbon, Elmer T. Lee, which he selected barrels for into his 90’s.
In 2001 Elmer was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame having left a lasting legacy on the world of bourbon.
In 1995 Buffalo Trace started producing Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon as a tribute to Elmer’s contributions to the bourbon industry. It’s made from Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill #2, which in contrast to their standard mash bill has a slightly higher rye content offering a little more umph in the pour. The bourbon is bottled at 90 proof with the thought that between the mash bill and proof point this is a bourbon that’s accessible to both the savvy drinker and the new to bourbon crowd. On average, the typical Elmer T. Lee is aged for approximately nine years. According to the Bourbon Blue Book® the average price currently for Elmer T. Lee is $162.
Store picks have a certain gravitas to them, and when you pair that with a popular bourbon like Elmer T. Lee and the rarity of which Buffalo Trace has historically allowed such picks to occur, the combination of the two equates to rarity and desirability driving up the price and prestige of finding one of these on your shelves. According to the Bourbon Blue Book® the average price currently for an Elmer T. Lee store pick is well north of a non-store pick at $841.
The Elmer T. Lee 90th Birthday Bourbon is a special, limited edition that was specifically created to honor Elmer’s contributions for his 90th birthday in 2009. In many ways this 90th bottling doesn’t differ markedly from the standard Elmer T. Lee pour – except for a few notable differences. First off is the packaging, as the bottle features the iconic plaid cap that Elmer is known for wearing. Second is the juice itself as Elmer personally selected the barrels that were used for this bottling ensuring it hit his meticulous standards. Only 2,000 cases were produced. Given the rarity it’s not surprising that the Bourbon Blue Book® average price currently sits at $6,300 for this bottle!
Released in 2019 this special bottling honors the 100thyear of Elmer T. Lee’s birth. Whereas the standard Elmer T. Lee bottling comes in at 90 proof, this special release was bottled at 100 proof which is suggested to provide a richer pour that accentuates the character of the dram. Beyond the proof, the mash bill and age are the same as the standard bottling. Uniquely, when this was offered for sale, the proceeds went to the Frankfort VFW Post 4075 where Elmer had previously been a member. According to the Bourbon Blue Book® the average price currently sits at $714 for this bottle.
With an extended runway on the aging process, having spent another six years in the wood compared to the standard nine of the regular Elmer T. Lee, the 15 Year Reserve bottle stands out from the crowd. Bottled at 93 proof, just a touch north of the standard bottling the age and proof come together to deliver a deeper and more complex flavor profile. Although it’s not disclosed how many were produced, we do know it’s very limited and is a sought-after addition to the collection for many. Although few of these are trading hands on the secondary market, over the last year we’ve seen four trade hands which according to the Bourbon Blue Book® the average price of those is $3,850.
Although we don’t know how many were produced, we do know that it wasn’t a lot. The gold wax topped Elmer T. Lee is therefore considered a collector’s item by many bourbon afficionados. Like other Elmer T. Lee expressions, this bourbon was hand selected by Elmer himself, and the was seal adds a unique touch that stands out from all other Elmer T. Lee bottlings. Current Bourbon Blue Book® average price is $1,730.
The Elmer T. Lee Commemorative Bottle, also referred to as the “Death Bottle” is unique for a number of reasons. Firstly, and most interestingly, they are bottled at 93 proof which is the age that Elmer was when he passed. The label is distinctive as well, black with gold embossed lettering bearing his signature. Only 1,000 bottles were made and the barrels for the bourbon were selected by Elmer himself. Current Bourbon Blue Book® average price is $1,174.
If you’ve been paying attention to just about anything that we here at Bourboneur have been saying this year, you’ll know that the bourbon market is down – so – it won’t surprise you to know that similarly, the price of Elmer T. Lee has come down alongside those falling prices. Year-to-date the overall bourbon market according to the Bourboneur Secondary Market Index is down just a little over nine percent. Bottles of Elmer T. Lee have fared significantly worse than the market index, down approximately 20.5 percent since the start of the year. Thegraphic below shows the overall price performance since the start of 2024.
Data matters and having up-to-date and reliable information to make informed decisions about buying, selling or trading coveted bottles of brownwater is critical. The secondary market doesn’t stand still and neither do we in cataloguing and providing the web’s most accurate, reliable and up-to-date pricing around. As new bottles hit the market, their pricing changes daily…finding a ceiling, and eventually a floor. The market shifts up and down, commensurate with the economy – with the bourbon secondary market down nearly nine percent year-to-date. If you’re looking for a resource that’s based on real data grounded in actual sales on the secondary market, is updated regularly, and has values for over 5,000 bottles and growing at your fingertips, you need to look no further than the Bourboneur App for iOS and Android. The app does require a paid subscription, only $3 per month or $25 a year, which easily pays for itself!
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Elmer T. Lee stands as a testament to the dedication, innovation, and craftsmanship of one of the most celebrated names in bourbon. Whether you’re a newbie to bourbon or a long-time aficionado, it’s likely you learned something in today’s post. As you pull out your favorite bourbon tonight, whether that be Elmer T. Lee or something else entirely, raise a glass to a man who’s pioneering spirit likely has inspired what you’re looking to enjoy. Cheers!
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