When it comes to Bourbon, few names command as much respect as Colonel E.H. Taylor. We are big fans of everything with the Colonel’s name on it. Today, we have the pleasure of reviewing E.H. Taylor Small Batch, Bottled in bond Bourbon. A whiskey that carries both a rich history and a distinctive profile. Named after Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., a key figure in Bourbon’s history, Small Batch is a tribute to his legacy of quality and innovation. From their website, “This bourbon is a true sipping bourbon that honors the uncompromising legacy of E.H. Taylor, Jr.” Colonel Taylor was instrumental in lobbying for the Bottled-in-Bond Act. This act was one of the first consumer protection laws in the United States, ensuring the purity and quality of American whiskey.
E.H. Taylor Small Batch is crafted at Buffalo Trace Distillery, one of the oldest continuously operating distilleries in America. As being Bottled in Bond, it is 100 proof and at least 4 years old. We could not determine the exact age. Small Batch sells for around $70-$80 depending on where you find it, is pretty much available at most liquor stores that have high-end juice and comes in a tall, ornate corked bottle. But, the bottle is then placed in a cool-looking hard cardboard tube, giving it an air of sophistication. We were not able to determine the mash bill but that it is Buffalo Trace’s mash bill #1, which most people believe is a low rye recipe.
As stated, we have been long-time fans of E. H. Taylor. We are hoping we can still have a non-biased review. On a side note, there are some who say Small Batch is just a higher-proof Eagle Rare. The same distillery, same mash bill, etc. But besides the proof, there is one noticeable difference: We know that Eagle Rare is aged for ten years, but we don’t know that about Small Batch. They could also age it at different levels in the rick house and shoot for different taste profiles. In the end, we love Eagle Rare, so who cares if it is a higher-proof version?
NOSE
Frank: Neither too sweet nor too strong on the nose for me. Some type of bread is the main scent I get, along with some vanilla, malt, yeast, and a touch of rye. Ice really didn’t change much.
Matt: Strong caramel with oak, brown sugar, cinnamon, warm bread, and leather. A small bit of ethanol but it doesn’t distract from the experience. Ice mutes all but the caramel.
Todd: A clean aroma of caramel followed by wood, grain, butterscotch, and spice. Also, get a slight nuttiness. Ice brought out even more caramel.
TASTE
Frank: Much sweeter on the taste with a bit of heat. Lots of caramel and bread up front. If I didn’t know better, I’d think bread was dipped in my glass. Behind all this is some butterscotch. Ice tames down the heat but also, the flavors.
Matt: Big caramel up front with some cinnamon on the back end. In between is oak, black pepper and nuts. Ice adds nougat and toffee.
Todd: Not as hot as expected, and like the others, caramel is the main player here. Still getting the wood and nuttiness with a little vanilla and leather as well. Ice opens it up a bit and made the caramel even stronger. I like it more with a little bit of ice.
FINISH
Frank: Medium-long with soft vanilla and an oily mouth feel.
Matt: Long and spicy with a touch more of cinnamon.
Todd: Long, sweet, and with enough heat, you know you are drinking Bourbon.
OVERALL
Frank: This is a good Bourbon at a good price.
Matt: A beautiful drink that really opens up with just a bit of ice or water. Would definitely buy.
Todd: Very good stuff, will always have a bottle around.
Nose 4.75 out of 5
Taste 8.75 out of 10
Finish 4.5 out of 5
Total score 18 out of 20 barrels.
Looks like we have another winner from Colonel E. H. Taylor and Buffalo Trace Distillery. A great nose with a great and complex taste that is followed by a very nice finish. This is pretty much all you can ask for in a Bourbon, especially at this price. Hell, even the packaging is cool.
If you like to have a Bourbon that you break out for special friends or special occasions or even just to treat yourself to nice drink, you could do a lot worse than E. H. Taylor Small Batch.