I've been going through my collection looking for unreviewed bottles, and was surprised that I'd yet to officially review this one (though I've certainly enjoyed it numerous times). This "necessary" review is a task that I'm more than happy to do on a college football Saturday! Color shows a clear hue somewhere between Pantone 158 and 159. Fruity nose exposes apples, mulled apple cider, pomander, cinnamon. On the palate, there's a quick hit of spicy cinnamon red hots, along with a fruity sweetness. No oiliness or viscosity. The red hots sweeten on the finish, tamed by some butterscotch and vanilla. The bottled-in-bond 100 proof punches a little above its weight, though not in a disjointed way. The overall impression is one of being "focused" or "tightly wound" in wine-review parlance, rather than mouth coating, smooth, penetrating, and viscous. Very good, but missing an additional gear; perhaps this is to the high expectations that this bottle projects. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. Secondary for this bottle is currently around $250; I purchased mine for a third of that. Value is relative at some level. There are about 16 1.5-ounce shots in a standard 750ml bottle. I'm not sure who pours just 1.5 ounces when savoring at home; so figuring a more realistic ten pours per bottle, $25 per pour is significantly cheaper than you're likely to find at a bar, but not something that most will be imbibing every day. You can thank me later for the mental accounting justification if you choose to go the "buy the bottle" route. ;) Buffalo Trace doesn't label or date these, but my single-barrel bottles were purchased three-odd years ago. 100 proof, as the bottled-in-bond designation indicates. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.
E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon
About this bottle
Often considered the father of the modern whiskey industry in the United States, Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr., fought for the Bottled-In-Bond act of 1897. At the close of the American Civil War he purchased what is now the Buffalo Trace Distillery. As is the nature of such releases, expect variations from barrel to barrel. Most barrels selected for this release are aged in Warehouse C which was built by Taylor in 1881. Each one is bottled-in-bond at 100 proof.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 50 parsed reviews.
A younger version of myself once drank a neat pour of Taylor Single Barrel at a restaurant and whiskey bar years back and was blown away. Of course, that was when I was just starting to discover GOOD whiskey and bourbons. And so, much like a fevered teen who had just discovered sex, I was doing my best to taste as many whiskies as humanly possible in each sitting. Today I was lucky enough to score a bottle of Taylor Single Barrel locally and actually have the time to sit and truly enjoy this bourbon. The nose smells of sweet vanilla and some green raisins. Its not bright and fruity rather, a bit darker. That fruit smell lurks in the shadows. The Vanilla and Raisins sit on a platform of ethanol. But it isn't distracting or overpowering, its just enough to remind you that this bourbon is bottled at a healthy 100 proof. The taste is warm sweet and inviting. My God, this is as close to a quintessential bourbon as one can taste. Vanilla sets the stage, rolling across your tongue and ushering in a hint of that raisin you got up front. The front of the taste brings in something dark, sweet and ever so slightly salty - reminds me of salted caramel. As you drink it down, some spice prickles your tongue, reminiscent of black peppercorn. The finish is moderately dry and spicy. You get a bit of fine leather mixed with pipe tobacco underlined with the slightest hint of rye. Boy, what an absolute treat this bourbon is. Like all good bourbons, I wish this wasn't as damn rare as it is. It's nuts that this $60 MSRP bottle will regularly command $200 or sometimes more. And although I am a bit ashamed to admit I did pay a price in that $200 range I can honestly tell you that its well worth the price of entry. Delicious.
Color: Deep Copper-Amber Nose: Sweet! Very little ethanol; Oak; Slightly fruity. Palate: (First pour neat) Syrupy(!). Well-balanced sweetness and spiciness with a slight warming chest hug right off the bat. The hug vanishes rather quickly. More spicy oak emerges upon further sips. The sweetness becomes more smokey, as well. This makes me happy, as I love "smokey" profiles. Lots going on. As always, I hesitate to over-use descriptors like, "caramel" and "vanilla". But I'm going to have to say I'm getting those things — but in a more "burnt" form. That's a good thing. (Second pour with a large ice ball) Interesting! I got "butterscotch" on the nose, just as I was going in for the first sip with ice. Wow! Burnt caramel on the second sip.. some leather, as well. This is smooth stuff, I might add. Finish: The finish is what I'd consider, medium with some unexpected "floral" notes. Spice, of course (I don't think I have ever had any Bourbon that didn't have a spicy finish). I've only had E.H. Taylor Small Batch prior to... and I have wanted to try their others. They've proven elusive over the years, but I got lucky today and was able to score the last available bottle of this SiB at one of my go-to shops. The wait was worth it. This is quintessential Bourbon to me, with a sweetspot proof of 100.
***MBS FAFO PICK*** Nose - Lots of pepper. Grapes are very abundant, almost like a dark grape that would be used to make a red wine. Some typical oak and leather notes come through followed by some vanilla and dark berry. Also some cherries as it opens. Palate - Super bright and sweet. Yes lots of pepper, baking spice, oak and leather. But whats different about this Sib is the bright berries and vanilla cream. Lots of chewiness in the mouth feel makes this feel like an extremely high quality bourbon. Finish - Finish is solid. Nice and balanced with that quality eh taylor pepper. Nice cinnamon warm feel that you expect out if a nice bourbon.
Color: Reduced syrup Nose: Candy, full of confectionary notes of fruits and milk chocolate fudge. Spun sugar and citrus preserves. Palate: Light caramel and vanilla cake frosting conceal a punchy, mineralic core. Black liquorice surprises, and lightly herbal. Finish: A little harsher than expected, but very substantial body. Dryness reminiscent of fresh oak shavings. Diluted: Nose finds some cherries and a little rainy foliage. On the palate, smoother and milder, while finishing easier but shallower (and a little grassy)
Another one of my older bottles in my selection, and one of my favorites. Nose is very flowery and almost perfume like. Taste is a very nice oak toast. Then it comes with a fruitiness that then morphs into a smooth toffee. The finish is present but on the shorter side, urging you take another sip.
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