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Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch

A limited release in 2017 and again in 2018, E.H. Taylor Four Grain is made from a “distinct bourbon recipe” using corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley. It was distilled in 2005 and entered into the barrel at 104 proof. According to Buffalo Trace, these are the four grains E.H.Taylor would have had access to in the late 1800s, which is why they were ultimately chosen for this release. In the company’s press release, master distiller Harlen Wheatley states, “We wanted to extract everything we like from both the rye and the wheat mashbills we currently use and combine them to see how they react. Not surprisingly, it added complexity to the finished product.”

Kentucky might be on the fringe of “Tornado Alley,” but even so, those powerful storms seem to be a fixture of life in the Bluegrass. Kentuckians received a fairly vicious reminder of that fact in early March 2012, when twisters tore through the state and left almost two dozen dead. Yet sometimes a tornado strike isn’t all bad, as Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. “Tornado Survivor” bourbon whiskey testifies to. The Colonel E.H. Taylor label is basically a series of Buffalo Trace limited editions (past installments include a single barrel and a 19th century-style sour mash), named for the man who founded the Old Taylor Distillery in 1887 and is known to some as the “father of the modern bourbon industry.” 24,000 barrels of bourbon destined for a Colonel E.H. Taylor bottling were aging in Taylor’s own Warehouse C (dating to 1881) when a tornado struck the Buffalo Trace property in 2006, ripping both it and another empty bourbon warehouse to pieces. The Taylor warehouse lost its roof and some of its walls, and while the barrels emerged from the disaster unscathed, they went on to an almost unique aging experience, as they received the full brunt of the Kentucky summer while the warehouse was painstakingly rebuilt around them. It is hard to understate just how thoroughly “cooked” the bourbon was that summer. I have commented in the past on how important the southern summer heat is to bourbon’s aging vis-à-vis the whiskey’s cousins in Scotland and Ireland, but direct exposure to the sweltering summer climate produced extreme results. The ultimate evaporation rate for the “Tornado Surviving Bourbon,” as Buffalo Trace calls it, was more than doubled to an extreme “angel’s share”

A premium pairing of the best Buffalo Trace distillery has to offer. Package includes 

• Eagle Rare 10yr Bourbon (750ml)
• E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bottled in Bond (750ml)
• Blanton's Original Single Barrel Bourbon (750ml)
• Old Weller Antique 107pf Wheated Bourbon (750ml)

Colonel E.H. Taylor Seasoned Wood was released in 2016 as a one-time release. According to Buffalo Trace, the barrels in this release underwent a variety of special seasoning processes, including utilizing staves that were immersed in an enzyme-rich bath with water heated to 100 degrees to make the barrels. After spending time in this proprietary solution, these staves were then placed into kilns and dried until they reached an ideal humidity level for crafting into barrels. Other staves were seasoned outdoors for six months, and still others were left outdoors for a full 12 months before being made into barrels and sent to the Buffalo Trace Distillery to be filled and aged. All barrel staves were seasoned, dried, and crafted at Independent Stave Company, who consulted on this project with the premiere expert on oak maturation, Dr. James Swan. Like E.H. Taylor Cured Oak, E.H. Taylor Seasoned Wood is a planned one-time release.

Seasoned Wood is a wheated bourbon. This is the first wheated bourbon Buffalo Trace has released under the E.H. Taylor brand. Buffalo Trace currently makes only one wheated mashbill but utilizes different warehouses and warehouse floors to create different variations in the flavor profiles.

Buffalo Trace Distillery has recreated his traditional sour mash and produced a limited edition, one-time offering of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon Whiskey for a true bourbon aficionado. A few years prior a gathering of Distillery retirees, a method was recounted for making "Old Fashioned Sour Mash whiskey. Edmund Hayes Taylor Jr. (EHTaylor) was known to use this technique in the late 1800's. Taylor's technique involved allowing the mash to sour naturally for days before distillation. Distilled in 2002, and bottled in 2012, this bourbon is a modern replication of this old-fashioned method. Using Taylor's original sourcing process, the result is a bourbon fo character and body like none other today. The combination of a rare estimated 10 year aging, winning the 2012 Gold Medal as one of the fifty best bourbons, and the extremely rare limited release make this bottle nearly impossible to find.

**This may be filled with a 700ml or 750ml bottling**

This 2024 Limited Edition release is a symphony of lively flavors that captivate the senses with every sip. Creamy vanilla, honey and brown sugar on the nose are followed by the flavors of ripe berries and tangy citrus on the palate. Intertwined are herbal notes and Four Roses' signature mellow spice to balance out the layers of complexity and sweetness with a delicate finish – for a pour that's ready to savor and enjoy.
108.2 Proof / Aged 12 - 20 Years

**This may be filled with a 700ml or 750ml bottling**

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.

The E.H. Taylor Cured Oak bottling offers lots of fruit on the nose, surprising for a whiskey that, remember, is 17 years in barrel—making it, by far, the oldest E.H. Taylor ever released. Red apple, some cherry, and mint hit the nostrils…all preludes for an engaging and impressively complex body. Lighter than you’d think given the 100 proof alcohol level, it pushes more of that fruit on the palate, laced with vanilla and a bit of lumberyard, before settling into a sultry, dark cocoa note. Beautiful balance, moderate but lush finish.

The E.H. Taylor Cured Oak bottling offers lots of fruit on the nose, surprising for a whiskey that, remember, is 17 years in barrel—making it, by far, the oldest E.H. Taylor ever released. Red apple, some cherry, and mint hit the nostrils…all preludes for an engaging and impressively complex body. Lighter than you’d think given the 100 proof alcohol level, it pushes more of that fruit on the palate, laced with vanilla and a bit of lumberyard, before settling into a sultry, dark cocoa note. Beautiful balance, moderate but lush finish.

For the first time, King of Kentucky introduces a three-batch series, each bottled at  a distinct proof to showcase the complexity of its aging process.

Each batch is a blend of barrels aged 12–18 years. Some barrels had exceptionally  high angel’s share, with just 16 percent liquid after years of evaporation.  

● Batch 2 (107.5 proof): Dark fruit notes of dates and fig layered with caramel  and charred oak; minty with hints of vanilla; a longer, crisp finish.

A mixture of 3 of the 10 Four Roses mashbill recipes all varying in age. Specifically the 125th anniversary edition contains a mixture of OBSV (18yrs), OBSK (13yrs), and OESK (13 yrs). Light traces of wheat, fresh berries and floral smells stand out with subtle aftertones of fresh nuts and new wood. A mixture of old leather and aged cedar like a cigar box on the palette. Additionally, the berry smell from the nose continues on in the palate and you get light hints of sweet berries and dried fruit.

I’m pleased to share the fourth release in the Booker’s® Bourbon 2016 Batch Collection, Batch 2016-04, also called “Bluegill Creek.”

The second batch of Booker's from 2015, celebrating Dot, the faithful sidekick of founding distiller Booker Noe.

Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 2020 Non-chill filtered and bottled at a 111.4 proof, the 2020 Limited Edition Small Batch features a 12-year-old Bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 12-year-old OESV, a 19-year-old OBSK and a 16-year-old OESK.

2021 Best Bourbon of the Year:
Best of the Best
Robb Report

*May be either a 700ml or 750ml bottle*

The 2014 bottling of the premium selection of four roses that was garnered as a small batch and a one time limited edition for 2014 that is distinct from the previous small batch limited editions. The nose introduced warm aromas of allspice, vanilla bean, rich apricot, and stewed fruits. It is followed by a palate of bright raspberry flavors and hint of decadent, sweet maraschino cherry and light oak. If that isn't enough the finish is long with a notes of rich brown sugar and hints of cinnamon. This bottle is a combination of 15, 13, and 12 year old recipes. Due to this being a small batch limited edition, bottles are now scarce and a rarity in stores.