E. H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 6

E. H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 6

Buffalo Trace

64.05% ABV/128.1 Proof

NAS

Eye: Orange gold. Thin rims and thin legs, droplets coat the glass.  

Nose: A nice BT nose, beautifully subtle bourbon. Baked goods, caramelized brioche crusts. 

Palate: Astringent - strikingly so right up front. Followed quickly by red fruits and dried fruits, not too much spice. Rounds out nicely, but the heat sticks around too long. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and filling, also quite astringent.

Finish: Oak takes over the palate and there’s not much else to be tasted.

Overall: This is…ok. I’ve had better, I’ve had worse. There are certainly more balanced Buffalo Trace products and also more balanced barrel-strength whiskies. Of the Taylor line, I still enjoy Small Batch much better. This feels like it’s trying to be something it’s not. 

Rating: 5.0

*Thanks to my friends at The Bourbon Culture for the sample!

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)