Named after the influential bourbon pioneer Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., this bottle is a part of the coveted E.H. Taylor lineup. Buffalo Trace first introduced E.H. Taylor's straight rye whiskey in 2011 as a way to showcase their rye production and pay tribute to Taylor's legacy. With high praise from many whiskey enthusiasts, the desire to seek out and collect each bottle in the lineup is strong for many, making these rather hard to find. This particular bottle is a standard expression in the E.H. Taylor lineup, which offers a bit more availability, but it's likely you'll pay above the suggested $80 MSRP due to demand.
Buffalo Trace describes this release on their website by saying:
Straight Rye Whiskey has experienced a strong resurgence in the American whiskey landscape, yet Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. was making this style more than 100 years ago. This small batch, Bottled-in-Bond 100 proof straight rye whiskey pays tribute to the former Distillery owner with a unique rye whiskey reminiscent of days long past.
With such a cult-like following (which is no surprise when it comes to Buffalo Trace products, it seems), the question that always comes to my mind is: Will it be worth the chase and the potential marked-up price?
I don't often gravitate toward Buffalo Trace when it comes to ryes. Admittedly, I also don't chase bottles all that often either, and find that craft distilleries are far more enticing when it comes to this style of mash bill, which is where my interests lie. But, every so often, I take a chance and pay slightly higher than MSRP for a bottle from the bigger guys (which was the case here). So, let's dive in and find out what all the hype is about, shall we?
Company on Label: Old Fashioned Copper Distillery (Buffalo Trace)
Whiskey Type: Straight Rye
Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed (Buffalo Trace high rye mash bill)
Proof: 100°
Age: NAS (4+ years) Further identification: The mash bill is undisclosed, but it's long been assumed Buffalo Trace's rye mash bill contains 51% rye
Nose: What a fruit-forward first smell, like walking into a bakery dedicated to baking only cherry pies with classic baking spices wafting through the air: ginger, clove, and cinnamon. Further inhales reveal lemon and mint with a flickering Yankee Candle in the distance, likely titled Dried Fruit and Flower Petals. Caramel is also quite prominent, reminding me of the warm, gooey kind covering an ice cream sundae, but here, on this nose, it covers the hints of rye spice trying to peek through. Perhaps a sip is in order.
Returning to the glass after a sip brings out an evergreen lemon scent, like Pine-sol. It doesn't last long before baked pear, and that gooey caramel arrives again. There's a bit more burn on the nose as the liquid gets lower in the glass, but it's not totally off-putting. The empty glass smells of prairie grass and musty oak.
Palate: The mouthfeel is surprising; it is much more oily than the nose let on. Rye spice hits up front, a lovely cracked black pepper, and warming clove, but is quickly shoved to the side by caramel like those annoying concertgoers elbowing their way to the front stage. A second sip brings in mint and lemon and hints of pine trees in a forest with the smell of frost in the air. The finish brings in some cardamon that reminds me slightly of dill pickles but falls off rather fast. This is abundantly sweet for a rye whiskey, and while the spices are there, they seem to drown in mounds of crystallized sugar. The final tastes encourage this rye's admiration for bourbon, and as the last sip graces my tongue, I, too, am convinced I just drank a bourbon disguised as a rye.
TL;DR: a bourbon drinker's rye, through and through
Rating: 3.5/5
There's something to appreciate about a rye whiskey willing to be the gateway for those who may be hesitant to venture into the spicy side of whiskey. This pour is a perfect entry point for those bourbon fanatics who may feel a wisp of curiosity for a more robust flavor profile. As a self-admitted "rye hound," my preferences tend to favor ryes that are, without a doubt, a rye through and through. But for friends who are just starting out, I will happily pour from this bottle as an introduction to the rye category, which is why I gave it the Keep Amongst the Whiskey distinction.
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