Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon

The last of the bonus samples from this round of our distillery tour group. Colonel E.H. Taylor Four Grain is a special release from Buffalo Trace. Made with a mash bill of corn, rye, wheat and barley (hence the name Four Grain). Bottled in bond which of course means 50% ABV and since it’s a Kentucky straight bourbon it is also natural color, this is a dark copper. I would guess that it is also non chill filtered. It comes in at the ripe old age of 12 years old. The nose is full and powerful. It starts off with a big mint note, but that fades fast and doesn’t really come back. Sweet corn, candy corn and a little bubblegum. It’s also fruity with cinnamon apples and some muted oranges. Cherries, cherry syrup and cherry cough syrup. Love those cherries! Some rye spice and warm rye bread. Sweet and spicy oak, vanilla, caramel and dark toffee. Red and black licorice, anise, clove and cinnamon. A softness from the wheat comes through in the fruitier notes. Vanilla coffee or mocha and light maple syrup all come through after time in the glass. My oh my this is a great complex nose. Fun to dissect. The palate is even more powerful and arrives spicy. Charred oak, licorice and rye punch though at first. It softens a little with sweet corn, vanilla, caramel and toffee. Pepper and more charred oak hang around. It does get a little fruity with apples, pears and cherries/cherry pie filling. Demanding, but rewarding. A full bodied mouthfeel that instantly dries the mouth, then becomes mouthwatering, but then dry again. A long finish that again is very dry. Oak, vanilla and corn slowly fade away until, hopefully, you take another sip. After reading Lee’s review I was excited for a top notch bourbon, and that’s what I got. A near perfect nose, but the palate was just a tad too demanding to make it truly superb. It’s close though, very close. It just keeps evolving in the glass, something I always find as the mark of a truly great whisk(e)y. If you have the opportunity to buy this one for retail prices, jump on it. Secondary market prices...depends on how much you like a quality bourbon. A big thanks to @LeeEvolved for the sample. 4.75 Cheers