E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch

A little background

E.H. Taylor, Jr. small batch is a Bottled in Bond (100⁰ and at least 4 yrs old) bourbon from Buffalo Trace.  According to their website, “barrels are evaluated and selected to create a perfect blend of distinctive character like no other.”  Retail price of around $40.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn.)

Color in the glass

Medium Amber

Nose

Tropical Punch-mango, pineapple, strawberry, raspberry.  Under the fruit I get a sweet and spicy note reminiscent of gingerbread cookies with shortening.  Overall a great mix of aromas.

Palate  

The fruits from the nose are all present here but they are not as intense as I was expecting.  Spices such as nutmeg, ginger, clove, and just a hint of white pepper are more prevalent than the nose would have you believe. The bump in Proof is noticeable but overall a subtle palate.

Finish  

The spices shoulder the weight of the finish with the fruits all but disappearing at this point.  A bit of Pine before fading out.

In closing

While being in the vein of their other offerings, the E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch is a notch above Buffalo Trace’s core offerings of Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare.  The bump in proof allows for a surprising transition of flavors throughout the experience.  My only grip is that for $40 for a Bottled in Bond bourbon I would like to see a bump in age with an age statement beyond the minimum 4yrs required for BiB.