Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Barrel Proof
7 years old; 134.5 proof
This is the fourth release in the Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Bourbon Collection, named for the founder of what is today Buffalo Trace Distillery. The uncut, unfiltered rye-recipe small batch bourbon was aged for seven years on the sixth floor of Warehouse C, which Taylor built in 1881. Buffalo Trace provided the Bourbon Babe with a sample of this bourbon, which will be released in June at a suggested retail price of $69.99 for a 750ml bottle. Let’s try it.
Aroma: Rich and heavy with fruit – cherries, currants
Taste: Yes, that does say 134.5 proof up there, so be ready. This is a powerfully spicy bourbon, with lots of peppery heat on the front. There’s also a bracing, fresh element – spruce, maybe? – as well as a bit of vanilla. You will feel this go all the way down, but the finish is rather short, leaving a bit of lingering rye and fruit.
Verdict: A nice bourbon, as long as you’re prepared for that initial fire. It’s sort of like a hot toddy all unto itself. I had a pesky allergy-related cough when I sampled it, and the Colonel fixed me right up.
P.S. A toast to my husband as we celebrate our 21st anniversary today. Our marriage is now old enough to drink!
