Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Batch 9 is the 2020 edition of Buffalo Trace's most uncompromising E.H. Taylor release, bottled uncut and unfiltered at a towering 130.3 proof, one of the highest strengths ever recorded in the series. The line honors Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., born in Kentucky in 1830, who moved to Louisiana with his great uncle Zachary Taylor before returning to Kentucky and making his most indelible mark on history as a founding father of the modern bourbon industry. This whiskey is drawn directly from hand selected barrels of Buffalo Trace's Mash Bill #1, the distillery's low rye bourbon recipe, and aged in the century old warehouses that Taylor himself built and oversaw. Nothing is added and nothing is taken away, reflecting the way whiskey was produced before chill filtration and proofing down became standard practice. Barrel Proof is released roughly once a year, typically in the fall, and each batch carries its own natural strength, which is why the label reads proof varies by batch, quality unyielding. Batch 9 pours a deep mahogany amber. The nose is powerful and concentrated, with dark caramel, charred oak, toasted nuts, dried dark fruit and pipe tobacco lifted by warm baking spice. The palate is dense and oily, layering brown sugar, molasses, dark chocolate and vanilla with cinnamon, leather and a commanding peppery heat. The finish is enormous and long, closing on oak tannin, toffee and slow burning spice. At this strength water is your friend, and a few drops or a large ice cube will unlock considerable sweetness. As a 2020 release now several batches removed from shelves, Batch 9 has become a genuinely scarce bottle for collectors working through the Barrel Proof series.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
65.15% |
| Proof |
130.3 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Type |
Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Barrel Proof |
| Batch |
9 (2020 release) |
| Distillery |
Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Mashbill |
Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (low rye) |
| Maturation |
New charred oak in century old warehouses built by E.H. Taylor Jr. |
| Filtration |
Uncut and unfiltered |
| Bottling Code |
L20 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep mahogany amber.
Nose: Dark caramel and charred oak with toasted nuts, dried dark fruit, pipe tobacco and warm baking spice.
Palate: Dense and oily, with brown sugar, molasses, dark chocolate and vanilla over cinnamon, leather and commanding peppery heat.
Finish: Enormous and long, with oak tannin, toffee and slow burning spice.
FAQ
What proof is E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 9?
Batch 9 is bottled at 130.3 proof (65.15% ABV), uncut and unfiltered.
How do I confirm I have Batch 9?
Batch 9 is the only Barrel Proof release bottled at 130.3 proof, and the laser code on the glass reads L20 for the 2020 bottling.
Is this one of the highest proof batches?
Yes. At 130.3 proof it is the second highest in the series, behind only Batch 12 at 131.1 proof.
What does uncut and unfiltered mean?
No water is added to lower the proof and the whiskey is not chill filtered, so it reaches the bottle as it left the barrel.
Is Batch 9 still in production?
No. It was the 2020 release, and several newer batches have followed, making it increasingly hard to find.
Where can I buy Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 9 online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
