Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Review

Hannah’s Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Review

Original review written February 2, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

We have had this one reserved in our bunker for some time, and it is with great pleasure that I report that the wait was definitely worth it. This bottle has so many different tricks up its sleeve, from the nose to the mouth feel to the taste, it’s vaulted instantly into one of my new favorites. 93/100

Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Review
VITALS:

– Made In: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
– Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch; Barrel Proof
– Age: nas (sources indicate EHTBP is aged exclusively in Buffalo Trace’s exceptional Warehouse C, built by Colonel E.H. Taylor himself in 1881, and believed to be likely around 7-8 yrs. old)
– Mash Bill: unpublished but believed to be Buffalo Trace mash bill #1: Corn =75%; Rye<10%; Malted Barley=15% (approximately)
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Uncut and unfiltered
– ABV: 64.65% (129.3 proof)
– Price: $69.95 USD in Idaho in 2019

For more information, visit buffalotracedistillery.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

While not a dominating flavor, I do imagine sitting at a brunch table, waiting for your meal to arrive and enjoying this with some honey spread on toast. The environment is cozy, and absolutely everything smells delicious. E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof amplifies the peaceful joy and anticipation of your food, leaving you with nothing but smiles and excitement.

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

NOSE:

Vanilla and orange blossoms come out on the first inhales, followed by maple candies and a bit of apricot. There is little alcohol to find here, which given its proof, is very interesting and even a bit exciting. Really deep inhales draw out a bready component that might be baked with some toasted almonds and honey. There is age here also, maybe a bit like how old books smells – homey, soft, and buttery. As far as wood goes, I’d say it’s very subtle, maybe not even an oak at all. It doesn’t exactly smell piney, but it has the mellowness of pine.

PALATE:
Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Review

– Mouth Feel: I LOVE this mouth feel. VERY oily at the tip of the tongue, but tickly and a little sharp at the back of the palate.
– Balance: Every flavor seems incredibly well-blended here, with no one flavor sticking out awkwardly, but with citrus and bourbon warmth being the heroes.
– Visual: Tawny in color, this coats the glass in one large sheet before seemingly falling all at once back into the pool without leaving many legs or a crown behind.

– Taste: Zings of citrus and white pepper greet me on the first sip, making it seem and feel almost like fireworks in my mouth. The vanilla chases right behind, sanding down the initial abrupt edges. The buttery-ness from the nose is certainly here, and the warmth of it absolutely explodes and hovers at the back of the palate and in the throat.

Other than that, the flavors seem very straightforward, with peppery spices kicking around a little to make it exciting. I can find a dark grape, fruit leather here on the sides of my palate that contrast really well the upfront orange citrus and vanilla at the tip of the tongue.

The alcohol here is very mild, as I can hold it for an extended period of time; however, I do feel it is possible for this to try giving Kentucky hugs, if you’re not careful. I will say that the overall warmth that I get from this is tremendous, and is definitely a large part of what is making this bourbon what it is. Very rich and just really very solid.

A Kentucky chew creates an orange cream soda flavor, and the pops of the alcohol almost feel like carbonation, making for a really fun experience. I can actually chew on it for a solid ten seconds before I feel any kind of pressure to stop. Again, remember, this is approximately 129 proof – that’s very impressive.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Very long. Both flavor and warmth stick around on my palate and down into my throat and chest.
– Between Sips: A bit of pepper, oak, maybe a bit of fresh grass and cherry all come into play between sips, having not been readily apparent on the taste itself. I find this very different from any other between sips experience I have had before. Usually flavors on the taste come in between sips also, but it’s as though there is a whole new experience to be here in these spaces.

– No More: This stays very consistent all the way through the glass, with the warmth only growing. I will admit, I have had several small Kentucky hugs as I’ve gone through, and I don’t consider myself to be particularly reckless with my bourbon either.

The empty Glencairn is a super warm oak and a warm summer night and everything beautiful and fantastic. Enough said.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At the time of reviewing, it’s been a long time since we’ve poured an E.H. Taylor, and this glass certainly reminds me why having it as a mainstay within the bunker is absolutely necessary. Worth every penny of $70, and though it’s rare, I know I speak for both my father and me, we will be looking out for any opportunity possible to secure another bottle.

RATING: 93/100

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To see other whiskies from this brand, click EH Taylor, Jr.

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Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 8 Bourbon Review

Brian’s Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 8 Bourbon Review:

written on 02-February-2021

COLONEL EH TAYLOR BARREL PROOF BATCH 8 BOURBON REVIEW:

Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 8 (EHTBPB8) bourbon is amazing. It smells, drinks and finishes like a 90 proof pour yet its bottle label puts this whiskey at 129.3 Proof. Subtle dark fruit aromas, spice, brown sugar caramel and oak pass easily to the palate and on through the finish. EHTBPB8’s tawny color belies its age; it tastes old. Do yourself a favor and secure a bottle of this OUTSTANDING bourbon, whatever the batch.

COLONEL EH TAYLOR BARREL PROOF BATCH 8 BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 8

Category: Barrel Proof Bourbon
Region: Frankfort, KY, USA
Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (consensus internet estimate: ~75% Corn, <10% Rye and ~15% Barley)
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: 125
Age: nas; The whiskey is believed to be about 7-8 years old.
(Buffalo Trace indicates EHTBP bourbon is aged exclusively in warehouses built by Col. E. H. Taylor himself.)
EHTBP Bourbon is Uncut and Unfiltered
ABV: 64.65% (129.3 Proof)
Price: $69.95 USD (Sep 2019 Idaho, $80 MSRP 2021)
Availability: Limited mid-year releases are highly allocated

Learn more at Buffalo Trace – Brands and
Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Releases.

EHTBP ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, approximately 1.4 ounces were poured from the newly opened bottle and added to our Infinity Bottle Project. Then small alternate pours were made into two Glencairns until appropriate review amounts were achieved. My daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah and I enjoyed this whiskey neat.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

EHTBP NOSE:

Upon first nosing, EHTBPB8 has no discernable heat or alcohol. There is dry warmth, roasted corn, dusty grain and a faint sensation of dark dried fruits: red raisins, dark cherry and a kiss of citrus. Baking notes of allspice, cloves, warm ginger, and nutmeg are blended into light vanilla infused orange sponge cake. Continual nosing brings additional, but subtle sweets of brown sugar, woody caramel, orange blossom honey and toasted almond toffee which are gently hidden among its seasoned dry old oak and toasted barrel haze.

EHTBP PALATE:

EHTBPB8 drinks as it smells: Dry and warm with soft flavors of fruit blossoms, roasted corn and dusty grain. Each sip is easy to hold as it awaits the inevitable chew. As sensed in the aroma, dried fruits of dark cherry, ripe dark plums and raisins come through as do sweet milk chocolate infused with vanilla, brown sugar, burnt woody caramel, dark toffee and now roasted walnuts. Its seasoned dry old oak, hazy toasted wood and the sensation of wet tooled leather, drifts over my tongue before each swallow. While I know this is a 129 proof bourbon, for me it is quite gentle.

Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 8

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
EHTBPB8 is a solid and well blended bourbon. From the first sip, I am wowed by its rich creaminess. As it passes through my mouth, its proof asserts itself on the back of the tongue before each swallow. In the Glencairn, the liquid breaks into fast dropping legs, leaving an ill-defined crown of different length inverted droplets before they slide back into the tawny bowl.

EHTBP FINISH:

Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 8 Bourbon offers a medium long to long dry warm finish with little to no heat. The sensations of roasted corn, dusty grain, dark dried fruit, faint cloves and pepper fade gently into this bourbon’s burnt caramel, toasted oak and old leather bliss. When the last dram is downed, dry old oak wafts from the empty Glencairn.

MY EHTBP RATING: 93/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
This bourbon will be difficult to find but any Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch will be well worth the search.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 93/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To see other whiskies from this brand, click EH Taylor, Jr.

EHTBP WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 8
Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 8

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Individual Reviews

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 Review

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 Review

Original review written January 30, 2021

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 Review: A really well blended bourbon, and while the nose doesn’t perfectly match the palate, the taste is so solid and warm and fantastic. Definitely recommend. 95/100

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 VITALS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 Review

– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=78%; Rye=10%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Non-chill filtered
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 63.6% (127.2 proof)
– Price: $69.99 USD in Wisconsin

For more information, visit heavenhill.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 SETTING:

With the insane warmth of this one, I imagine enjoying this offering in a field of sunflowers. The sun rises and the flowers still don’t know quite where to turn as they wake up. The air is crisp with the last of night’s chill lingering, but the warmth of B520 makes the sun and the colors pop even more amidst the sweet-smelling field.

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 NOSE:

This smells instantly oily and viscous, and while I know those are not things that one should be able to smell, I feel as though I can anyways. There’s just something slippery that is there instantly, along with something flowery and apple-y. I can also detect ripe white peaches with cinnamon or brown sugar dusted over the top and a vanilla custard with it (though not densely sweet custard). For being over 125 proof, the nose is unaggressive, and I find that I can take deep draws without it affecting me too much. Those deeper draws coax out a sweet oak, a summer flower, and a light maple syrup. Overall, very impressive.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 PALATE:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 Review

– Mouth Feel: Viscous for sure, but there is a mouth-watering tickle here also that keeps me going back for sip after sip.
– Balance: The flavors are all so perfectly well-blended here, it’s very challenging to pull them apart, but they come together in such a cohesive manner to create such a solid taste! I can’t even be frustrated with not getting many individual flavors here.
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, there are long, clinging legs that eventually thin out to stay as clinging droplets.

– Taste: The first sip is instant warmth that doesn’t burn at the tongue, but certainly tickles on the way down. The fruits are still there on the palate, but I’d almost be tempted to say that they were berry-esque, rather than the brighter fruits of the nose. If I had to pick, I’d say blackberry. There’s a fruity acidity here too, whether that be a citrus (undefined), or perhaps a tart pink lady apple, it’s hard to be sure.

The cinnamon has kicked up in intensity on the palate also, and the vanilla seems darker also. I still wouldn’t define this pour as being particularly sweet, as the heat does keep coming back for second passes, but it has the Elijah Craig essence of richness in its fruits and sharpness in its warmth. Don’t think I mean alcohol burn when I say this, rather just a bourbon warmth (though I do suspect this could give a painful Kentucky Hug).

The oak is stronger on the palate also, along with the char of the barrel. It’s almost as though this pour came directly from charred wood, and I admit, I do quite like that.

A Kentucky chew brings out the heatwaves along with a punch of vanilla and brown sugar. The fruity acidity turns into almost a bitterness and lingers for a second before these other flavors take over the sensation and taste.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Very long. I can feel the heat absolutely everywhere and it sticks around long after the sip has come and gone.
– Between Sips: Apples (not particularly bitter or tart) occupy the space between sips, along with that classic Elijah Craig warmth. The flavor dissipates quite quickly, I do admit.

– No More: This keeps wanting to bite me the more I get into the glass, but the game of cat and mouse with a blend this solid is very enjoyable and entertaining. No new noticeable flavors to emerge.

The empty Glencairn smells very warm and very similar to the empty Glencairn of Batch B518, with plenty of oak, richness, and certainly age.

IS ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 WORTH THE PRICE?

We usually get ECBP bottlings ten dollars cheaper at around $60, as opposed to this time around when we paid $70 (Idaho did not have a large B520 allocation at the time of purchase). That being said, this bottle, to me, may be the best ECBP offering that I have tried, even exceeding Batch C917, and as such, I think it is worth every penny of $70 easily.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 RATING: 95/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 95/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.

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