Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon

Nose - rich caramel, cocoa, vanilla, graham cracker, marshmallow, sweet floral notes, brown sugar, black pepper, candy corn, funnel cake, allspice, peanut butter, cinnamon, sweet oak, mint, leather, tobacco, apple, cherry, orange zest, nutmeg, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - salted caramel, milk chocolate, vanilla, apple, cherry, black pepper, brown sugar, marshmallow, candy corn, leather, peanut, tobacco, spicy oak, allspice, cinnamon, floral notes, black pepper, graham cracker, lemon zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium long with baking spice, rich caramel, red fruit, and chocolate flavors. Let’s cut to the chase. This is better than the Small Batch, at least the barrel @jonwilkinson7309 most graciously sampled for me to review. Roughly the same notes present here, but they’re all punchier and more easily identifiable. The fruit notes in particular are cranked up, providing a delicious juicy apple and cherry hit on the nose and palate. There’s also a peanut buttery nuttiness that I didn’t discern with the Small Batch, which is a welcome addition. While there’s still a bit of the same thinness I found on the Small Batch, it’s not as bad here. However, I don’t get any of its counterpart’s sourness, which indicates to me that this is much older than the average of the Small Batch’s components. Overall, I hold the same opinion as I do with the Small Batch. It’s absolutely worth the price at its $60 retail, but don’t touch it at the ludicrous secondary ones I’m seeing online. I’d love to try some of the other Taylor expressions, particularly a barrel proof release or a more aged version, as the only significant flaw I perceive, the thinness, would likely be minimized. Unfortunately, I’ll probably be waiting a while until I stumble upon one of those in the wild.

About as near to perfect as I’ve had. I only see Stagg sr and the like edging this out. Rounds out the edges of the small batch.

Creamy vanilla, strawberry, butterscotch, rye.

It’s very sweet. Like most bourbons, there’s a strong burnt caramel flavoring. There is a good bit of oak, but it’s not overwhelming

Smooth and sweet. Strong but also still very subtle