Col. E. H. Taylor Small Batch Bottled In Bond

Details

AKA: Taylor Small Batch

Producer: Old Fashioned Copper Distillery, Frankfort, KY

Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY

Age: NAS (Reportedly 6-8 years)

Bottled: 2020

Proof: 100

Finish: None

Introduction

Col. E. H. Taylor is the bottled in bond line of Buffalo Trace bourbons. They’re all bottled at 100 proof, a requirement of bottling in bond. The only exception is the Taylor Barrel Proof, for obvious reasons. They’re all made from mash bill #1, the low rye mash bill at Buffalo Trace. The only exception is the Taylor Four Grain, for obvious reasons. We’ve already reviewed the aforementioned exceptions, which stand above the pack. Now, we’re reviewing the Taylor Small Batch, which is produced more frequently, and therefore, more readily available. It still suffers from the Buffalo Trace hype, which means it’s quickly snatched from the shelves, and it commands an inflated price on the internet. This bourbon is named after Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor, who was the one time owner of what became the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Naturally, we will compare the Taylor Small Batch to the Taylor Single Barrel.

Tasting

Color: Light orange

Body: Medium

Nose: Light cocoa, oak toothpick, cedar plank, not fruity, maybe some prune

Palate: Nuttiness like almond and peanut, allspice, powdered sugar, almost perfumy, slight berry fruit, very thin

Finish: Medium to long, warm

Score: Jack

Song: Jailbreak – Thin Lizzy

Tag: Taylor Small Batch

Discussion

This is a small batch bourbon, so each batch should have a fairly constant flavor profile, while the single barrel version may vary slightly from barrel to barrel. The barrels that are chosen for the single barrel version are hand picked for their superior quality, and they are reportedly aged 2-4 years longer. As one might expect, the small batch version is of lesser quality, and it shows in this review. Taylor Small Batch is still a good bourbon, but it’s a bit thin on flavor. It has a woody undertone, lying between light oak and cedar. Buffalo Trace reportedly uses a #4 char on its barrels, but this bourbon tastes like the barrels are more toasted than charred. There is a slight nuttiness and a perfumy floral note. The powdered sugar, allspice and berry fruitiness are all quite thin, leaving the palate a bit underwhelming, especially given the hype associated with the brand. Therefore, I recommend pairing it with Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy. Taylor Small Batch is a daily drinker, if you can find it, but it can’t compare to Taylor Single Barrel.