Details
- Price: $69 (not widely available)
- Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
- Type: Bourbon
- Age: No Age Statement
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace
- Visit the distillery page at E.H. Taylor Small Batch
Review
Nose: The nose is moderate and aligns with the proof of the whiskey. You smell the heat of the alcohol along with various whiskey notes. It’s pretty straightforward but nothing to talk shit about. The color is a deep copper tone and looks delicious.
Palate: The palate is more delicious than the appearance. I feel the initial burn and heat of the whiskey, however, it quickly dissipates and unfolds into rich flavors. The bold whiskey notes are noticed before transitioning to new, more subtle flavors. The experience lasts a few seconds and is enjoyable throughout. Each additional drink offers less heat and more complexity, bringing out the smoothness of the whiskey. This is a great bottle and unique experience. The small batch processing and 100 proof distilling provide an exceptional taste. It’s a shame this bottle is so difficult to find…
Finish: The finish is a journey through complex flavors. You taste many whiskey notes, which make this bottle stand out in comparison to others. The bottled-in-bond processing ensures craftsmanship, and you can always trust Buffalo Trace to carry on a whiskey’s amazing legacy. Per the bottle labeling, this bourbon is meant for sipping.
Rating
Overall Score: 8.1 (score reflects taste and price)
E.H. Taylor Small Batch is a high-quality bourbon that rivals more expensive alternatives. The palate and finish are excellent and deserve praise for their complexity. This whiskey leverages small batch and bottle-in-bond processing to create exceptional craftsmanship. It’s a shame this whiskey is subject to allotment and difficult to find. If you’re fortunate enough to find a bottle, purchase it without hesitation and brag to your friends.
Degenerate Discussion
The whiskey labeling gives the impression of sipping bourbon in the 1800’s, which is a nod to the initial founder of O.F.C. Distillery – Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. I love that the Buffalo Trace’s website points out the distilling of this whiskey began at the close of the Civil War (weird comment, but let me explain).
At this point, everyone is under the impression E.H. Taylor was an actual Colonel (I mean, it’s in the name). E.H. was a Colonel in the same way Michael Jordan was a baseball player…but even less. It turns out, this was an honorary title given to him. The older generations consistently suggest the new generations are ‘soft’, but they didn’t even need to do shit to get a Colonel title a 100 years ago. This makes me feel like the Kardashians have worked their asses off to get what they’ve achieved (kidding, they can’t work those off). The insane backstory on E.H. is great, but it doesn’t compare to this amazing whiskey. This is an exceptional bottle and worth the ‘whiskey hunt’ to find. I found it on a business trip and brought it back on my return flight. Best decision ever; cheers Degenerates!
Listings
You can find E.H. Taylor Small Batch on the following Degenerate listings:
- Buffalo Trace Whiskeys
- Bottled-In-Bond Whiskeys
- Small Batch Whiskeys