American Bourbon and Rye

The inaugural release is a tribute to history, artistry, and the enduring spirit of craftsmanship. Rested in 300-year-old French oak barrels from the storied Berce Forest, these ancient trees were originally harvested to restore the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris following the fire of 2019. Their intricate grain and unparalleled density infuse the whiskey with a character as profound as the history they represent. The result is a spirit that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation, honoring the cultural legacy of France while showcasing the best of American whiskey.

Previous, squat bottle design of the popular wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace

As part of the wheated bourbon family, this twelve year old W.L. Weller is aged far longer than most wheated bourbons. This offering is a smooth, easy-going and balanced bourbon with a beautiful deep bronze color.

Willett Family Estate "Purple Top" 13 Year Bourbon ("Raley's")

Barrel: 132
Proof: 119.4

2007 Thomas H. Handy

Buffalo Trace Distillery proudly introduces Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council: a limited-edition, ultra-premium Kentucky Straight Bourbon born from the very spirit of the pioneer who helped define American whiskey. Crafted using equipment and based on techniques originally invented by Taylor himself, this 100-proof bottling stands as the closest modern interpretation of the fine bourbons produced under his leadership at O.F.C Distillery (now Buffalo Trace) during the 19th century.

The inspiration for this modern recreation traces back to 1996, when a group of bourbon visionaries and retired George T. Stagg Distillery craftsmen* convened at Buffalo Trace Distillery in their pursuit to create the world’s best whiskey, a mission that continues to guide production at the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery today. As they sampled more than 30 whiskeys across a range of ages, mash bills and proofs, one voice cut through the room with a thought: “Well, we don’t make whiskey the way we used to.” This led to the Distiller's Council unpacking the way that whiskey was made when they first started their careers. That meeting, until now known by bourbon insiders as the “Distiller’s Council”, resulted in a re-discovery of E.H. Taylor’s pioneering techniques that had been lost to history.

In the spirit of Honor Tradition, Embrace Change, this led to the revival of Taylor’s sour mashing process – patent pending by Buffalo Trace – and, combined with the modern wisdom of Buffalo Trace’s expert distillation team, the creation of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council. Crafted using his trailblazing techniques, the production process remains nearly identical to that of the 1880s using both grains in his mashbill and his fermentation process. This expression celebrates a seminal moment in bourbon history and commemorates that meeting with a one-of-a-kind expression that tastes unlike anything else currently available on the market.

“Colonel Taylor’s unwavering commitment to quality and innovation has helped shape every decision at our Distillery since he set our standards in 1870,” said Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller, Buffalo Trace Distillery. “His enduring legacy left a profound impact on everyone present on that fateful day in 1996. As many of them are no longer with us, we hope they are enjoying this angel’s share with the Colonel himself – watching proudly as we carry his vision forward.”

Widely recognized as the “Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry,” Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. purchased the O.F.C. Distillery in 1869 and ushered in a new era of innovation. From state-of-the-art grain equipment to copper fermentation tanks and the first steam-heated barrel warehouses – still in use at Buffalo Trace today – Taylor’s vision revolutionized bourbon production. His advocacy also led to the landmark Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, cementing his legacy as a champion of quality and integrity. His visionary spirit continues to guide Buffalo Trace more than a century later.

“Colonel E.H. Taylor didn’t just shape a distillery – he helped shape the entire bourbon industry. That’s why he’s known as the Father of Modern Bourbon,” said Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “From championing the Bottled-in-Bond Act to modernizing production standards, many of his innovations have stood the test of time and are in use to this day. Always of Topmost Class, he set the bar for integrity, innovation and craftsmanship. In that spirit, we are proud to revive this faithful interpretation of his original recipe, crafted with the same standards of quality and spirit of innovation he so fiercely advocated.”

Bottled at 100-proof in a vintage-style, Grecian glass decanter modeled after one featured in an 1950s-era Old Taylor “Original Recipe” Bourbon advertisement – as seen in popular magazines such as TIME and Playboy – this special bottling will be available in limited-quantities nationwide at retail stores, restaurants and bars starting July 2025 at a suggested retail price of $1,499.99 (750ml) (local taxes and costs dependent).

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council is the 14th release to join the acclaimed bourbon portfolio alongside expressions including Small Batch, Single Barrel, Rye, Barrel Proof Rye, Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon, Four Grain and more. In Fall 2025, E.H. Taylor will join the annual, highly-anticipated Buffalo Trace Antique Collection as the Collection’s first Bottled-in-Bond bourbon.

This expression is the 5th release of the Cowboy series, made from a mash bill of 74% corn, 15% soft winter wheat, and 11% two-barley. It is matured a minimum of 5 years. This release was bottled in 2019 at 137.3 proof, limited to 6,440 bottles.

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon the American Whiskey of the Year in Jim Murray’s 2014 & 2017 Whisky Bibles. It’s the ultimate ambrosia. Unlike the Small Batch, The Cowboy comes from our Master Distiller and our Founder's favorite barrels. They’re set aside for a couple of years for further maturation and the liquid is bottled at cask-strength, uncut and unfiltered. It takes a special barrel to create a bourbon nectar sweet enough to be enjoyed at such a high proof. The potency normally overpowers the flavor. This ain’t the case with the Cowboy – it’s so sweet, the flavor overpowers its proof. And you can thank the Texas heat for that.

This the second release of Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon. This release from 2015 was aged for four years and bottled at a barrel proof of 135 proof. Only 5200 bottles were produced.

The Garrison Brothers 2015 Cowboy Bourbon is a rare (only 5,200 bottles) and highly sought-after cask-strength release from Texas' first legal distillery. Aged in the blazing Texas heat, this bourbon delivers bold flavors of rich caramel, toasted oak, and dark fruit, with a long and smooth finish. The 2015 edition is uncut and unfiltered, offering a true expression of Texan craftsmanship and spirit.

Jefferson's Presidential Select 17 year

*Batch varies*

2011 Bottling

PRODUCER'S NOTES: "A younger version of our famous 20-year-old Pappy Van Winkle’ Family Reserve, this bourbon was crafted according to our exclusive family wheated recipe. The smooth, oak flavor blends well with the barrel proof. Selected from barrels in the heart of our Kentucky warehouse, it has remained untouched for 15 years and unhurried by time."

Inspired by private single barrels offered in 1964 by former Old Forester president George Garvin Brown II, this modern offering is specifically selected from matured barrels with exquisite quality and distinct characteristics.  

“President’s Choice has always been an incredibly rare and cherished bottle, and most consumers have never seen it, let alone tasted the whisky,” Master Taster Melissa Rift said.  “We are honored to bring it to a wider audience.”

“Every barrel selected for President’s Choice tells a story,” Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo said.

“These are the barrels that showcase an extraordinary depth of character. Whether it’s the bourbon or our new rye, each bottle represents the pinnacle of Old Forester’s craftsmanship.”

Each President’s Choice barrel is aged between 7 - 9 years, and bottled at proof points selected by Caleb and Melissa highlighting their unique flavor profile, traditionally ranging from 110 to 125 proof. Every bottle reflects the highest standards of selection, with only the finest barrels deemed worthy of carrying the President’s Choice name.

Little Book “The Easy” features uncut, unfiltered Kentucky Straight Bourbon blended with corn whiskey, rye whiskey, and malt whiskey – the three ingredients commonly found in a bourbon mash bill—to create an easy-drinking whiskey that’s blended to be one of a kind. 

It all started when I was working in our Global Innovation Center, learning all about blending. I looked at the different types of whiskies available and saw that we had individual corn, rye and malt barrels. I wondered, “If you blend those together to the exact proportions of a bourbon mash bill, will it taste like bourbon?” So I tried it. I blended 4-year-old corn, rye, and malt whiskey, and let me tell you, it didn’t taste like bourbon at all! The corn whiskey overpowered everything else, since the rye whiskey also had some corn in it. 

It wasn’t balanced at all. That’s when I was inspired to blend in the fourth component—some actual finished bourbon whiskey.

When I started my search, our team gave me access to nearly every barrel we had in storage. I tasted and tinkered with bourbon aged six and even nine years, trying to achieve just what I was looking for in my inaugural release. What I found was that blending in four-year-old bourbon did what those others could not—ensured that all ingredients could complement each other without a single piece overpowering the final taste profile.

I found the balance I was looking for. And with it, a new whiskey I’m truly proud of.

4-year uncut and unfiltered* bourbon whiskey

13-year uncut and unfiltered* true corn whiskey

Nearly 6-year uncut and unfiltered* 100% malt whiskey

Nearly 6-year uncut and unfiltered* high rye whiskey

Blanton's 2020 Poland Limited Edition (Green Label)

High West BouRye (2015)

High West BouRye (2014)

Willett Family Estate 8 Year Rye ("The Buzz Button")

Willett Family Estate "Purple Top" 12 Year Bourbon - 135.8pf ("Afternoon Delight")

Distilled under the tutelage of Julian Van Winkle (Pappy), this is a gorgeous expression of the paramount brand from Stitzel-Weller.  Bottled in bond at 100 pf and 8 years, this is some of the most sought after vintage distillate from that period of time.  

Old Carter Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Batch 6 (106.5)