Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye - 95 - ★ ★ ★ ★

Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Taste Score: 95
Category: American Straight Rye, Bottled-in-Bond
Whisky Cabinet Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

About The Brand

Colonel E.H. Taylor championed the Bottled-in-Bond act of 1897 that served to protect bourbon drinkers in an era where poisons, flavouring, and un-aged spirit were all common additives to whisky. The designation means the whisky has been aged at minimum of 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse, bottled at least 50% ABV, and made in the same distillery during the same year.

Edmund H. Taylor owned several distilleries, including what is now Buffalo Trace Distillery. In recent times, Jim Beam owned the Old Taylor Bourbon up until Buffalo Trace bought the brand in 2009. While Buffalo Trace continues to release Old Taylor Bourbon, Colonel E.H. Taylor (CEHT) is a new brand. All CEHT have the Bottled-in-Bond wording on the bottle, and include single barrel, small batch, and rye as regular releases, plus additional special releases such as the Barrel Proof reviewed earlier.

Colonel E.H. Taylor Rye Compared to Other Ryes

If you’re new to American ryes, the story goes something like this—Bourbon continues to be a big seller, but the popularity of America ry whisky has grown in the last 5 years. Many popular American ryes come from MGP of Indiana (including Bulleit Rye and George Dickel Rye). MGP of Indiana Distillery was a popular choice for whisky makers that weren’t ready to make their own ryes.

Buffalo Trace Distillery, however, is no stranger to ryes. Their Sazerac 18 Year Old (almost impossible to find), is highly praised as one of the best ryes in the world. Sazerac Rye is believed* to be of 51% rye (the minimum), 39% corn, and the rest malted barley. This gives the rye a thicker mouth-feel and softens out the spicy rye notes. Distinguishing itself from Sazerac Rye, Colonel E.H. Taylor contains no corn, and instead made of mostly rye with some malted barley.

Tasting Notes

When drinking Colonel E.H. Taylor Rye, I ask myself, what could make this rye any better? Had it been aged longer, the oaky notes from barrel maturation would easily trample all over the subtle aromatic nose. Had it been age any less, that undertone of oaky sweetness would be missing. At first, CEHT Rye tasted almost underwhelming, but that’s really the beauty behind this drink. It’s subtle, complex, and draws you in. This has quickly become a favorite rye of mine.

CEHT Rye is brighter and lighter on the nose by comparison to MGP ryes. The nose is light and floral. The oaky vanilla sweetness is so damn subtle that it adds a nice layer beneath the floral notes. Dusty, with zest, and a touch of caramel—it’s a lovely complex nose. On the palate, it starts with soft caramel sweetness. That flavour evolves rapidly with high peppery spice, lemon zest, and this complex swirl of vanilla, and cinnamon spice. The finish takes on deep dark peppery notes that are intense without going over-the-top.

Ryes have been a growing segment of the American whisky market. Early ryes were soft, light, and smooth. CEHT Rye is many of these things, but it’s a subtly complex drink with the right balance of sweetness. While I quite enjoy MGP ryes, Buffalo Trace’s Colonel E.H. Taylor is a big winner for me in this category.

* Buffalo Trace doesn’t release the specific ratios of their mash-bill recipes. 

Whisky Cabinet Rating Explained:
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆  Not recommended
★ ☆ ☆ ☆  Good whisky, but not a ‘must-have’
★ ★ ☆ ☆  Your great regular rotation whisky that'll come and go
★ ★ ★ ☆  Excellent, a near must-have
★ ★ ★ ★  Extraordinary, memorable, and original