Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye

Uncut. Unfiltered. Barrel proof. Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye — Buffalo Trace's homage to the man who created the federal quality standard for American whiskey, delivered at natural barrel strength without dilution or filtration.

Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. was one of the most significant figures in 19th-century American bourbon history. A prominent distiller and businessman who owned multiple Kentucky distilleries including the Old Fire Copper (OFC) Distillery — what is now Buffalo Trace — Taylor championed quality standards in an era of rampant adulteration. His most lasting contribution was lobbying for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which established the first federal consumer protection standards in American spirits: single distillery, single season, four-plus years aging, 100 proof, government-supervised bonded warehouse. The BiB standard he fought for remains the most rigorous production certification in American whiskey 125 years later.

The E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye applies Taylor's philosophy of transparency and quality to Kentucky straight rye whiskey at its most direct — uncut, unfiltered, at natural barrel proof. No dilution, no filtration, no compromise. The rye's natural grain spice, dried fruit, and caramel character delivered at maximum intensity, exactly as it emerged from the barrel.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Rich amber with the concentration of barrel-proof rye whiskey.
• Nose: Bold rye spice, dried fruit, vanilla, and caramel at natural barrel strength — the E.H. Taylor production quality at full intensity.
• Palate: Powerful and assertive — rye grain spice, caramel, dark fruit, and warm oak at uncut barrel proof.
• Finish: Long and spice-forward — cinnamon, pepper, and rye grain through a deeply satisfying close.

Specs

• Distillery: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
• Bottling: Uncut, unfiltered, barrel proof
• Named for: Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr.
• Size: 750ml

Explore the full E.H. Taylor collection or browse all rye whiskey at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who was Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr.? Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. was a 19th-century Kentucky distiller who owned multiple distilleries including the OFC Distillery (now Buffalo Trace). He championed whiskey quality standards and lobbied for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 — the first federal consumer protection law in American spirits history. The BiB standard he created is still the most rigorous production certification in American whiskey today.
• How does the Barrel Proof Rye compare to the E.H. Taylor Rye (BiB)? The standard E.H. Taylor Rye is Bottled-in-Bond at exactly 100 proof — the standard Taylor championed. The Barrel Proof Rye is at natural barrel strength without dilution to 100 proof — the more intense, uncut version of the same rye program. The irony is elegant: the most uncompromising expression is named for the man who standardized 100 proof.
• What makes E.H. Taylor expressions distinctive within the Buffalo Trace lineup? The E.H. Taylor line uses Buffalo Trace's high-rye mashbill aged in Taylor's namesake Warehouse C — a century-old brick warehouse that Taylor himself built, which produces distinctive barrel cycling characteristics due to its construction. The barrel proof rye is the most concentrated expression of this specific provenance.
• Is the E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye still available? Yes — available now in limited quantities.