Individual Review: E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel (2020)

This is a bottled in bond straight Kentucky bourbon whiskey produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery as part of their E.H. Taylor, Jr. line. This bourbon is named after Colonel E.H. Taylor who was instrumental in lobbying the United States Congress to pass the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 to ensure products being labeled as whiskey meet specific standards. As a further tribute to his namesake, all the E.H. Taylor, Jr. bourbons are labeled Bottled in Bond (except the barrel proof version), meaning that they meet the strict criteria laid out in the United States Code of Federal Regulations (27 C.F.R. § 5.42(b)(3)) in order to call itself such. Additionally, all the E.H. Taylor, Jr. line is aged in the distillery's "Warehouse C," which Buffalo Trace claims was built by Taylor himself in 1881. The particular bottle for this tasting is from the 2020 release.

Parent Company: Sazerac Company

Distillery & Bottling Company: Buffalo Trace

Mash Bill: Unknown (Buffalo Trace says it uses their Mash Bill #1, but does not disclose what grains or proportions of those grains are in it)

Proof: 100

Age: At Least 4 Years

Direct Examination (AKA Tasting Notes):

Nose: Brown Sugar, Vanilla Ice Cream, Werther's Caramel Candy, Cherry, Cinnamon, Oak, Strong Ethanol, Corn

Palate: Creamy Butterscotch and Caramel, Red Apple, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Tobacco

Finish: Warm Cinnamon, Tree Nuts, Dr. Pepper Spice, and Oak Tannins

Length: Long

Mouth Feel: Medium to Heavy

Cross Examination (AKA The Whiskey's Shortcomings):

The barrel tannins on the finish are overwhelming if the whiskey is chewed for too long.

Closing Statements (AKA Conclusions about the Whiskey):

E.H. Taylor Single Barrel (2020) is a very smooth bourbon. It is 100 proof, but drinks like it is 90. It has all the classic caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar notes of a bourbon. The unique spice notes that mingle with the sweeter flavors are where this bourbon really shines. The only downside to this whiskey is that the tannins and herbal tobacco notes can overshadow the its more sweet and savory aspects.

Personally, I prefer the 2019 version of E.H. Taylor Single Barrel. The 2019 is not as dry and has a creamier feel to it. The 2020 does have stronger fruit notes, but the bitter notes of tobacco and tannins are a little to powerful. E.H. Taylor Single Barrel has an MSRP of $60. That price is not too bad, but more often than not it is marked up to a minimum of $90, and even that is rare. Realistically, this bourbon is likely to be found for more than $100. I don't think this bourbon is worth more $100, but it is still a good whiskey.

Verdict (AKA Score): 7.5

Verdict Key:

10: I do not possess the vocabulary to adequately or accurately describe this masterpiece. It should not be possible for man to create such art.

9: Incredible. Hoard this stuff. Paying secondary market prices is totally worth it.

8: A real pleasure to sip. Always try to have at least one bottle and a backup on hand.

7: A solid pour. Daily drinker for sure. Try to have a bottle on hand.

6: Would not say no to a pour if offered to me, but I won't go out of my way to find it.

5: Good to mix with a coke.

4: Swing and a miss. A mixer makes it tolerable.

3: Only if I had nothing else to drink in the house.

2: Was this made in a prison toilet?

1: This is the stuff the KGB used to slowly and painfully kill prisoners.

0: An abomination of epic proportions. Should not be called whiskey.