Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon

old oak color. Sour Apples, followed by caramel and Big vanilla nose. wood flavor on the tongue strong bitter finish. Does benefit from aeration.

Feb 2017 bought at Ace Spirits, Hopkins $39.98

Ethanol, Butterscotch, Colored pencil shavings

It feels like I went to the ends of the earth to get a bottle of this, as nobody local seemed to be able to acquire it. The bottle was surprisingly inexpensive, but the shipping across the continent wasn’t! Visual: Deep reddish amber in the glass. Moderate legs form on the side of the glass on swirling. Nose: Initially cherry coke, leather, oak, and cooked peaches. After 10 minutes the vanilla comes through, giving this whiskey a peach cobbler character. Palate: A nice, velvety mouthfeel greets the palate. It is rich and substantial. The flavor begins with a sweet, brown sugar attack with a slight saltiness, followed by an oaky mid-palate with lots of baking spice and cola flavors. Then, there is more vanilla and stone fruits. Finish: The long finish is spicy with black pepper, cinnamon, and anise. The licoricey anise lingers for a while. Breathing out through the nose, more leather can be sensed, along with tobacco and oak tannins. All in all, this is a creamy, delightful bourbon. At 100 proof, and with its other characterful qualities, I am certain it would stand up to any mixer and hold its own in a variety of cocktails, but why would I bother? This bourbon deserves to be enjoyed neat, and that is my recommendation to any who wish to try it. I’m teetering between a 4- and a 5-star rating on this, trying not to let my general love of bourbon get the best of me. However, I think I’m just going to have to give it 5. I really like it and will be seeking more. I’m hoping Buffalo Trace keeps this as a regular member of its line-up and also expands distribution so that I can enjoy it more conveniently.