Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 13 Review: Evaluating the 127.3 Proof 2024 Release from Buffalo Trace
- Nick Anderson
- 10 hours ago
- 5 min read
The once-yearly released E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof bourbon is one that long-time whiskey enthusiasts sure like to hunt. Dropping in the fall or winter alongside the revered allocations of Pappy Van Winkle, this one doesn't have quite as deep of a cult following as the wheated bourbon line bearing old Pappy's likeness. Fans of the E.H. Taylor line, which also includes a small batch bourbon, a single barrel bourbon, and a straight rye, are sure to have their eyes peeled for this release, though. Bottled at cask strength, this is the enthusiast's dram through and through. One might argue that this bottling or the famed Blanton's Straight from the Barrel might make a suitable addition to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
I've covered quite a few batches of the barrel proof bourbon releases, and this year, things get a little tricky since we have a repeat proof. If you're confused between batch 10 and batch 13, don't worry, I'll teach you how to identify which batch you have by the end of this article. The links below on each batch will take you to my previous reviews of those batches. Batches 9 and 10 were both lovely.
Batch List
Batch 1: 134.5° (2012)
Batch 2: 135.4° (2013)
Batch 3: 129.0° (2014)
Batch 4: 127.2° (2015)
Batch 5: 127.5° (2016)
Batch 6: 128.1° (2017)
Batch 7: 129.7° (2018)
Batch 8: 129.3° (2019)
Batch 9: 130.3° (2020)
Batch 10: 127.3° (2021)
Batch 11: 129.0° (2022)
Batch 12: 131.1° (2023)
Batch 13: 127.3° (2024)
How to Find Which Batch You Have
Now for the tricky bit when the proofs are the same, as is the case between batch 10 and the present batch 13. Here's where laser codes can help us. Etched onto almost every bottle (occasionally they get missed on the bottling line) is a serial code that gets laser etched onto the glass. It's a thin, hazy white font on shiny clear glass, so it can be quite difficult to see unless you get the right lighting. Try holding your bottle at an angle under a bright light, or if it's daytime, lean it towards a window. The code will be near the bottom of the bottle and can be anywhere around the perimeter. It's not always under a certain label, front or back, because these are just run on an automated bottling line that usually has each bottle in a random orientation. See below for what you're looking for.
Reading Laser Codes
Now what do these characters mean? Why are there so many of them? The only ones we need to pay attention to are the first 3 in order to figure out what batch we have. The first one is a dud character, L, that just represents that this was bottled on the Buffalo Trace bottling line. The next 2 letters will tell us the bottling year. So L24 was bottled in 2024, which is batch 13. If your bottle reads L21, you've got a batch 10 on your hands. You can refer back to the batch chart here, and make sure to pin this page as a future reference guide in case you need to figure out other bottlings. Once you know how to read laser codes, I'd say you're officially entering whiskey nerd territory, so proceed with caution.
Now that we've got all our homework out of the way, let's taste some whiskey, shall we?
Company on Label: Old Fashioned Copper Distillery (Buffalo Trace)
Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%)
Proof: 127.3°
Age: NAS (supposedly around 8 years)
MSRP: $80 (2024)
Further identification: This is the 2024 release of E.H. Taylor barrel proof, the 13th release to date; it is typically only distributed once per year in the fall
Nose: Rich candied cherry and a sweet, dark vapor permeate this glass—this is Taylor through and through. It's hefty in the nose, like there's something more than just air passing through the nostrils. Sticky raisin, blackberry, and fig aromas are thick and resinous. Bright lemon tea jumps to mind as my nose scours the depths of this already thoroughly enjoyable pour. Underlying complexities of clove and allspice provide exquisite complexity. Cedar and oak mix in perfect harmony as I find myself hiking over the mountains of Maine to find the perfect fishing hole. After a long rest, the class is teeming with fruity esters; I find raspberry, apricot, and osmanthus flowers. There's an underlying sweet peach and grapefruit character as well that I'm really digging here; this is a fun glass to nose.
After a few sips, the nose is still quite fruity, though it begins to turn a touch tropical as coconut and vanilla mingle in the land of sweet sunshine. At times, waves of potent oak can be found, though this comes and goes like a temporary sweeping cloud. Classic bourbon tones resonate in strong volume all throughout this experience before the empty glass presents soft clay, graham cracker, and an air of oldness, like a museum gives off.
Palate: My first sip presents massive, taking full control of my taste buds, tongue, and mind. Rich guava, peach, and apricot jam are zipping across my tongue like a Daft Punk dancer. Another sip is more accessible but just as enjoyable as candied cherry and pink peppercorn leave a lasting impression on a soft but strong linger. Sipping later in the glass is like liquid nostalgia. It's potent in the way your other high-end Buffalo Trace products might land, ultimately tasting like something right in the middle between Stagg Junior and George T. Stagg. It does drink a touch hot, but it's not a jagged, searing heat, instead landing like a bit of overwhelming news that you have to have repeated. The flavors that do squeak through the in-your-face bourbon heat are vanilla frosting, cardamom, pink lemonade, and a flash of earthy turmeric. My last sip is a multi-layered explosion of cinnamon, cardamom, and grenadine before a long, slow, tumultuous finish of maraschino cherry juice and allspice tingle on the tongue forever.
TL;DR: A bold Kentucky bourbon built for end of night toasts
Rating: 4/5
This does drink a touch hot as a first pour of the day, but if you've warmed up your palate with something lower proof, it presents much nicer. I see this one as a great offering to bring to a bottle share where you want something that is going to stand out from the crowd without completely breaking the bank. While it's definitely going to take some hunting to find at a reasonable cost, I'd say the pour is worth the chase for me.
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