Colonel E.H. Taylor

Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. is one of the founding fathers of the modern bourbon industry — the man who lobbied for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, establishing federal quality standards that protected authentic bourbon from adulterated spirits. Every E.H. Taylor release from Buffalo Trace Distillery honors that legacy: Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof, from a single distillery, in a single season, aged a minimum of 4 years.

The E.H. Taylor Lineup

E.H. Taylor Small Batch — The most widely available expression. Caramel corn sweetness, butterscotch, and subtle tobacco spice with a dry, long finish. The benchmark Bottled-in-Bond bourbon. E.H. Taylor Single Barrel — Selected from individual barrels, each offering unique character variations on the house style. Deeper and more complex than Small Batch with pronounced oak and vanilla. E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof — Uncut and unfiltered at barrel entry proof. Full-bodied, high-proof, and intensely flavored — one of the most coveted standard releases in the lineup. E.H. Taylor Straight Rye — 100 proof Bottled-in-Bond rye whiskey from Buffalo Trace. Bold, spicy, and distinctly different from the bourbon expressions. E.H. Taylor Limited Releases — Annual and occasional releases including Four Grain, Tornado Surviving, Warehouse C Tornado Surviving, and Amaranth Grain of the Gods. Highly allocated and sell through extremely quickly.

Bottled-in-Bond Explained

Bottled-in-Bond is a federal designation requiring production at a single distillery by a single distiller in a single distillation season, aging for at least 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottling at exactly 100 proof. It was the original quality guarantee in American whiskey — Colonel Taylor championed it because he believed authentic bourbon deserved legal protection from the adulterated spirits flooding the market in the 1800s. All Taylor expressions meet this standard.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is E.H. Taylor so hard to find?

E.H. Taylor is part of the Buffalo Trace allocated portfolio — produced in limited quantities and distributed unevenly by state. The allocated expressions (Barrel Proof, Single Barrel, limited releases) are particularly scarce. Wooden Cork acquires Taylor expressions when available and ships nationwide.

What is the difference between E.H. Taylor Small Batch and Single Barrel?

Small Batch blends multiple barrels for consistency — approachable, balanced, and reliable. Single Barrel is hand-selected from individual barrels, offering more variation and complexity. Each Single Barrel bottle has a unique character that reflects the specific barrel it came from.

What does Bottled-in-Bond mean for E.H. Taylor?

Every E.H. Taylor expression meets the federal BIB standard: single distillery, single season, minimum 4 years aging, bottled at exactly 100 proof. This is the standard Colonel Taylor himself established in 1897 — the same legal quality guarantee that protects every bottle bearing his name today.