More than ever before, Chris Stapleton's 2024 UK tour has been big, elaborate, and packed with sold-out shows, but the country star isn’t just captivating fans with his music — he’s winning over whiskey enthusiasts with his Traveller Blend No. 40. In collaboration with Harlen Wheatley, the sixth master distiller of Buffalo Trace, Stapleton has crafted a blend that reflects his love for whiskey and his deep friendship with Wheatley. The name is also a nod towards the singer’s 2015 album, Traveller.
It turned out to be serendipitous. When Stapleton first suggested Traveller, Buffalo Trace told him they already owned the name. It felt like destiny — an unmistakable sign that Stapleton should be deeply involved in the project. “Harlen did the heavy lifting,” he admits. “We wanted it to be the best quality we could put in that bottle. We knew it would face scrutiny, and a lot of people [would] want it all over the world.”
Wheatley frames the collaboration as an artistic journey, much like creating music. “When making art, you experiment, test, adjust, and don’t stop until it’s perfect. That’s what we did with Blend No. 40.
“We truly believe both Chris’ music and the whiskey we craft at Buffalo Trace are forms of art. You don’t give up until you’ve got it right.”
In the pursuit of perfection, 50 different blends were sampled before they settled on the 40th. “This collaboration combined Chris’ love for whiskey with our technical expertise,” says Wheatley. “Chris first discovered our bourbons through E.H. Taylor, and we’ve supported his charity, Outlaw State of Kind, through barrel donations. This partnership is a natural extension of our decade-long relationship.”
The result of this process is a whiskey which has already received 15 awards, including Best in Class Gold at the Whiskies of the World competition and Gold at the Spirits Business American Whiskey Masters. Bottled at 45 per cent ABV, it delivers a rich medley of flavours — sweet maple, tart currant, leather, vanilla, aged fruit, and shortbread — culminating in a robust finish of spice and toasted nuts.
“What I like to do is let the whiskey settle over one ice cube for a minute,” says Stapleton. “I’m not a cocktail person; I like to taste the whiskey. It’s like putting on your favourite T-shirt; comfortable and familiar. It’s a new elevation of what blended whisky can be.”
Though Stapleton boasts an extensive whiskey collection, selecting this one was an easy decision: “I had that feeling immediately when tasting it that I couldn’t say no. As beautiful as the bottle is, it’s what’s inside that really counts.”
“People seem to like it, it’s doing well,” adds Wheatley. “Chris has been working hard in New York, busy with promotion. He’s even been drinking whiskey at 7am on TV shows!”
“Which,” Stapleton smiles, “even for me, is a bit early.”
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Stapleton takes pride in the state’s whiskey heritage. “Buffalo Trace has been a staple in the studio for every record I’ve made. I’ve been a long-time fan of Harlen’s work, and when the opportunity came up to collaborate, it was a no-brainer. I’d been approached by others since my music includes drinks references, but for me, it had to feel right. Buffalo Trace is close to where I’m from, it just made sense. This partnership grew out of friendship, not as a money grab.”
Stapleton, understandably, encourages everyone to try it: “Even if you don’t think you like whiskey, you might like this. It’s a blended whiskey with Harlen Wheatley’s lineage behind it — he makes some of the hardest-to-get bourbons in the world. It’s worth having on your shelf, and you don’t have to sell your first-born to buy a bottle.
“It’s easy to drink and hard not to love.”
Traveller Blend No. 40 is available for £30 at royalmilewhiskies.com, and at the Buffalo Trace Distillery Tasting Experience, 32 Long Acre, WC2E 9LA, buffalotracedistillery.com/london
