E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Bourbon

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey represents the raw, uncompromising power of the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. This highly coveted annual or bi-annual limited release honors Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr., an industry giant who championed the historic Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 and revolutionized traditional distillery warehouse design.

While the standard Small Batch release is proofed down to a approachable 100 proof, the Barrel Proof expression bypasses the water filtration tanks entirely. Handselected barrels are dumped, married, and bottled precisely at the alcohol volume they reached naturally while resting inside the distillery’s legendary brick-and-limestone Warehouse C.

The mash bill utilizes the distillery’s highly acclaimed Mash Bill #1—the same low-rye grain recipe responsible for legendary staples like Eagle Rare, George T. Stagg, and Buffalo Trace Bourbon. By skipping both chill-filtration and proof reduction, the liquid retains its maximum amount of natural wood sugars, fatty oils, and intense barrel char. This results in a thick, dense, almost chewable mouthfeel and a fluctuating batch strength that usually hovers between 62.5% to 67.5% ABV (125 to 135+ Proof), guaranteeing massive search traffic and exceptional click-through urgency on luxury e-commerce platforms.

Tasting Notes:

• Aroma: Deeply concentrated, punchy, and opulent. Opens with an intense wave of dark brown sugar, thick maple syrup, and vanilla bean, seamlessly layered with dried figs, maraschino cherries, dark chocolate, and a heavy backbone of toasted oak.

• Palate: Monumentally full-bodied, warm, and explosive. Upfront notes of oily caramel, rich butterscotch, and sweet honey instantly coat the tongue, before evolving into complex mid-palate layers of cracked black pepper, cinnamon candy, dark cocoa, and heavy seasoned wood tannins.

• Finish: Incredibly long, warm, and highly complex. Leaves a sophisticated, tingling trail of lingering sweet barrel char, rich tobacco leaf, dark stone fruits, and a final, robust wave of baking spices.

Serving Suggestion:

Given its massive barrel-strength volume, this premium expression is a magnificent playground for customization. Taste it first in its pure, neat form to feel the raw, concentrated intensity of the cask. Then, add a few drops of pure room-temperature distilled water or drop in a single crystal-clear ice sphere. The minor dilution acts to lower the alcohol burn, dramatically spreading out the flavors to unlock beautiful hidden notes of creamy fudge, citrus oils, and sweet pastry crust.

Product Specifications