Traveller Blend No. 40 Whiskey by Chris Stapleton
Traveller Blend No. 40 Whiskey by Chris Stapleton is the 90 proof (45% ABV) blended whiskey born from the collaboration between 8× Grammy-winning artist Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. After sampling and testing more than 50 blends, the two landed on Blend No. 40 — a mixed-grain whiskey aged in new charred oak barrels and specialty casks, released January 2024 at $39.99/750mL and named the first-ever Official Whiskey of Major League Baseball. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Blended Whiskey — mixed-grain mash; new charred oak + specialty casks
- Collaboration: Chris Stapleton + Harlen Wheatley; Blend No. 40 chosen from 50+ blends
- Release: January 2024, SRP $39.99
- Official notes: oak, sweet maple, tart currant, leather; vanilla, aged fruit, buttery shortbread, caramel
- Awards: Double Gold — 2024 TAG Global Spirits Awards; Best in Class — 2024 Whiskies of the World; Double Platinum — 2024 ASCOT
Stapleton, Wheatley, and Blend No. 40
"Traveller is a completely unique combination of whiskeys hand-selected from The Sazerac Company's award-winning distilleries," per the Buffalo Trace press release — and the selection process was genuinely collaborative: Stapleton and Wheatley worked through more than fifty blends before settling on No. 40. The mixed-grain mash gives it a profile neither a straight bourbon nor a straight rye would produce, and the MLB partnership (first-ever Official Whiskey of Major League Baseball) put it in stadiums nationwide. Explore more American whiskey and the distillery's range at Buffalo Trace.
Tasting Notes
The official Buffalo Trace notes: "notes of oak, sweet maple, tart currant and leather. Complex aromas of vanilla, aged fruit and buttery shortbread are rounded off by caramel and a touch of oak. The flavor profile also showcases a touch of sweetness, followed by spice, toasted nut and oak flavors, closing with a robust finish."
How to Enjoy
At 90 proof this is built for easy drinking — neat, on a big cube, or in a whiskey highball during the game. It also mixes well: the maple-caramel sweetness carries a Manhattan nicely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Traveller Blend No. 40?
A 90-proof blended whiskey from Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley — Blend No. 40 was selected from 50+ test blends.
Is it a bourbon?
No — it's a Blended Whiskey with a mixed-grain mash, aged in new charred oak and specialty casks.
When was it released?
January 2024 in the US, at a suggested retail of $39.99/750mL.
What awards has it won?
Double Gold (2024 TAG Global Spirits Awards), Best in Class/Gold (2024 Whiskies of the World), Double Platinum (2024 ASCOT), Gold (American Whiskey Masters), and others.
San Diego whiskey fans can order Traveller Blend No. 40 online at Del Mesa Liquor — the official whiskey of MLB, bottled at 90 proof.