Bourbon Review · E.H. Taylor

E.H. Taylor Small Batch

Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon

4Buy This Bottle

Distillery Buffalo TraceOrigin Frankfort, KYType Bottled-in-Bond Straight BourbonABV 50% (100 proof)Price ~$60 retail

The Story

Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. is one of the reasons bourbon has any rules at all — he's the guy who pushed Congress to pass the Bottled-in-Bond Act back in 1897, which is why bonded whiskey has to be aged at least four years and bottled at exactly 100 proof under government watch. This Small Batch is the entry point into the lineup named after him: a blend of barrels built for consistency rather than single-barrel surprises.

Nose, Palate & Finish

Nose

Clean and simple — caramel, vanilla, a little spice, some toasted grain underneath. Nothing fancy, just a well-put-together nose.

Palate

Medium body, pleasantly sweet up front. Caramel, brown sugar, a mild rye kick in the middle. The 100 proof gives it more presence than you'd expect. Easy to drink, consistent every time.

Finish

Medium length, warm, a little spice. Vanilla and oak carrying through to a clean finish.

The Verdict

This is the easiest way into the Taylor lineup and a solid everyday bottle on its own. At retail it's a good value for a bonded bourbon and a decent intro to what Buffalo Trace does with a high-rye mashbill.