Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Straight Rye Whiskey is a distinguished, Bottled-in-Bond masterpiece produced as part of the acclaimed E.H. Taylor collection at Buffalo Trace. Named in honor of Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr.—the nineteenth-century distilling visionary who fought tirelessly for the passage of the landmark Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897—this expression is presented in an authentic vintage-style bottle and packaged in Taylor's iconic cylindrical canister. It holds a unique and revered position as one of the few straight rye whiskeys in America crafted entirely without corn.

Distilled and matured in Frankfort, Kentucky, at the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery, this rye is aged inside the historic brick warehouses Taylor originally built. Taylor was a relentless innovator in warehouse architecture, pioneering steam-heated aging systems to regulate temperatures during freezing Kentucky winters. Today, barrels for this release mature in Taylor's historic warehouses, where thick brick walls foster stable, gentle aging conditions year-round.

In strict compliance with the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye is the product of a single distillation season by a single master distiller at a single distillery, aged for a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at exactly 100 proof (50% ABV). Uniquely, while most Kentucky ryes utilize corn in their recipes, Taylor Rye is crafted from a proprietary mash bill composed solely of rye and malted barley. This corn-free recipe produces a remarkably pure, dry, and peppery spirit that emphasizes the raw, spicy character of the rye grain without masking it with corn sweetness.

Bottled at 50% alcohol by volume (100 proof), Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye pours a rich, shimmering golden copper. The aroma is complex and elegant, offering scents of dried fruit, black pepper, fresh dill, candied citrus, and sweet floral honey. On the palate, the 100-proof strength provides a full-bodied, structured texture filled with notes of dark caramel, licorice, clove, toasted oak, and bright cinnamon, concluding in an exceptionally long, clean, and pleasantly drying finish with lingering rye spice.

Taylor Straight Rye is extraordinary when sipped neat in a Glencairn glass or with a small splash of spring water, which unlocks sweet vanilla, apple, and mint nuances. Thanks to its robust 100-proof bonded strength and pure rye mash bill, it also crafts an extraordinarily aristocratic Manhattan, Sazerac, or Old Fashioned that elevates any cocktail program, pairing effortlessly with rich charcuterie and roasted meats.

This bottle is a prized acquisition for whiskey collectors, rye connoisseurs, and history buffs. It serves as an impressive gift for milestone celebrations and an enduring monument to Colonel Taylor's uncompromising standards.

Crafted without any corn in the mash bill, Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye offers a delightfully dry, peppery, and grain-forward profile that stands apart from standard Kentucky ryes. Maturation in Taylor's historic brick warehouses infuses the spirit with deep notes of licorice, black pepper, and toasted oak, while the 100-proof bonded strength provides the structure needed to elevate a classic Manhattan or Old Fashioned to luxury status.