Bourbon Review · E.H. Taylor
E.H. Taylor Single Barrel
Bottled in Bond Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
⚑ Placeholder review — tasting notes to be updated after the pour.
The Story
E.H. Taylor Single Barrel takes the bonded Small Batch formula and strips it down to one barrel at a time, letting the individual character of each selection come through. The result is a bourbon that can vary meaningfully bottle to bottle while maintaining the house style — and that variation is worth paying attention to. Barrel numbers are printed on the label, which makes comparing notes with other enthusiasts actually useful. This is one of the more interesting bottles Buffalo Trace releases at a price that doesn't require a second mortgage.
Nose, Palate & Finish
Nose
More expressive than the Small Batch — the single barrel nature allows individual barrel character to push through. Concentrated caramel, oak, dried cherry, and a strong rye spice presence. Some barrels lean heavily fruity, others are more grain-forward. Always interesting, always identifiably Taylor.
Palate
Full and well-structured at 100 proof. The single barrel character shines through on the palate — the rye spice is more prominent here than in the Small Batch, and the sweetness is more restrained. Oak, dried fruit, pepper, and a pleasant complexity that rewards slow sipping.
Finish
Long and spiced with lingering oak and rye character. Better length than the Small Batch with more to follow into the finish. The barrel-specific nature means this varies, but consistently finishes well.