Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Straight Rye is one of the most sought after ryes in American whiskey, produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. It honors Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., a towering figure in bourbon history who owned the distillery in the 1800s and campaigned for the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, legislation that gave drinkers a government backed guarantee of authenticity at a time when bogus producers were flooding the market. This whiskey carries that standard proudly. Bottled in Bond means it is the product of one distillery and one distillation season, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse and bottled at exactly 100 proof. What sets this rye apart is its recipe. Rather than a typical rye mash, it is made from a mash of rye grain and malted barley with no corn at all, a traditional approach that produces a remarkably clean, spice forward whiskey. It was aged in Warehouse C, built by Taylor himself in 1881, and bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). In the glass it is a warm amber. The nose is bright and aromatic, with rye spice, vanilla, light citrus and soft floral notes. The palate is silky and full bodied, layering peppery rye, cinnamon, brown sugar and toasted oak with a touch of mint and dried fruit. The finish is long, dry and pleasantly spicy, with lingering oak and clove. It is outstanding neat or over a large cube, and it makes a superb Manhattan, Sazerac or Old Fashioned. Presented in a vintage style yellow label with the Colonel's signature and packaged in a kraft gift tube, it remains a highly allocated release that whiskey hunters chase every year.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
50% |
| Proof |
100 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Type |
Straight Kentucky Rye Whiskey, Bottled in Bond |
| Distillery |
Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Mashbill |
Rye grain and malted barley, no corn |
| Maturation |
New charred American oak, Warehouse C (built 1881) |
| Age |
Minimum 4 years (Bottled in Bond) |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm amber.
Nose: Bright rye spice with vanilla, light citrus and soft floral notes.
Palate: Silky and full bodied, with peppery rye, cinnamon, brown sugar, toasted oak, mint and a hint of dried fruit.
Finish: Long, dry and spicy, with lingering oak and clove.
FAQ
What proof is E.H. Taylor Straight Rye?
It is bottled at 50% ABV, which is 100 proof, as required by Bottled in Bond standards.
What is the mashbill?
It is made from a mash of rye grain and malted barley, with no corn, which is unusual among modern American ryes.
What does Bottled in Bond mean?
The whiskey comes from one distillery and one distillation season, was aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and was bottled at 100 proof.
Who was Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr.?
He was a pioneering Kentucky distiller who owned the distillery now known as Buffalo Trace and helped champion the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897.
Is E.H. Taylor Straight Rye hard to find?
Yes. It is an allocated Buffalo Trace release with limited availability, so stock moves quickly.
Where can I buy Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
