Buffalo Trace Distillery releases the second limited edition Bourbon in the Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. collection with a Single Barrel Bourbon. This Bourbon was aged 11 years and 7 months years in Warehouse C, which was built by Col. Taylor in 1881.

Bottom line: If you’re a Scotch fan, you’ll probably enjoy this one. If not, await future releases in the Col. Taylor Collection as more whiskeys will be added to this limited collection over the next few years. We had more of a liking to the first Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon. However, limited editions can be worth taking a ride while they last.

This E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel is “Bottled in Bond” at 100 proof and follows the Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon released around March of this year.

As very limited release, this Single Barrel may be difficult to find. It will be packaged in a vintage label and canister, which are reminiscent of Taylor’s bottles nearly one hundred years ago and will be priced around $59.99 per 750ml bottle.

Col. E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Review

Bourbon: Col. E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon

Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky

Age: 11 years and 7 months old

Proof: 100 Proof, 50% ABV

Color: Medium to deeper amber

Nose: Deep Oak, plums, and buttery. The nose contains much the signature oak DNA of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and other Buffalo Trace Bourbons.

Taste: Enters sweet and buttery, goes to a mild zesty citrus character and the swallow is a prevalence of “smokiness” reminiscent of a Scotch. The acidic nature plays against the smoke in a strange fashion at first, but after more sips becomes an interesting journey.

This kind of smoke is rather unexpected flavor coming out of a Bourbon and delivers the the depth of the barrel in a fashion that we don’t taste often.

Finish: Long finish of serious oak stays firm on the tongue along with citrus, bitter, and  tobacco.

Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr.

Taylor is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry, fighting for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, nearly three decades after he purchased the now Buffalo Trace Distillery. During his time, Taylor implemented several innovative methods still used today by Buffalo Trace, such as climate controlled aging warehouses.

In addition to his bourbon interests, Taylor had political ties. He was the great-nephew of President Zachary Taylor and elected the mayor of Frankfort, state representative to the Kentucky General Assembly and a member of the State Senate.

Bourbon review by BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer

Popularity: 26% [?]

Named after the year Kentucky officially became a state, 1792 is the official toasting Bourbon of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. A unique mash bill with stronger rye content delivers a distinct and recognizable, delicious flavor to 1792 Ridgemont Reserve. Thus, here is BourbonBlog.com‘s review of 1792 Bourbon..

1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon Review

Bourbon: 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon

Distillery: Barton 1792 Distillery, Bardstown, KY. This is the former Tom Moore Distillery

Age: “No less than 8 years”

Proof: 93.7 Proof, 46.85% ABV

Color: Solid Caramel

Nose: Corn sweetness with good backbone of the rye, vanilla, some light peach.

Taste: A nice thickness with balance of the sweet and spice. The flavor drinks well under 93 proof with little burn. This smoothness and texture are indeed a compliment to the crafting process and selection by Ken Pierce. Somewhat rich and dessert-like in nature with elements of date nut, pecan pie, apple with creamy textures on the back end.

Finish: Moderate to long with mild lingering sweetness.

Bourbon review by BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer & Stephen Dennison

Popularity: 21% [?]

BourbonBlog.com brings you the first Wild Turkey 81 review. This new Bourbon made with a blend six, seven,and eight-year-old Bourbons is the first whiskey solely crafted by Wild Turkey Associate Distiller Eddie Russell. Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon was developed largely for mixology to be a truly “mixable spirit” to delivers Wild Turkey’s famous kick.

So far, we have mixed it in a classic Manhattan and an Old-Fashioned. The flavor stands up delivering a fairly bold, buttery and refined flavor. This Bourbon also makes a good sipper for the value at a price of $19.99 (MSRP) a bottle, here is our review..

Wild Turkey 81 Review

Bourbon: Wild Turkey 81

Distillery: Wild Turkey Distillery, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

Age: Blend six, seven,and eight-year-old Bourbon.

Proof: 81 Proof, 40.5% ABV

Color: Medium amber

Nose: An oak coated vanilla with has some detectable age, soft corn and hints of rye.

Taste: The entry is mellow and somewhat soft yet it has a vibrant and rounded complexity. Flavors open up in mid-palette and become more intense with the oak and char toward the finish. Nice blend of caramel, honey, vanilla and oak. The DNA of Wild Turkey’s high-rye mash is evident, but less pronounced than most Wild Turkey Bourbons.

In some small ways, the flavor has a few of the spicier elements of the acclaimed Wild Turkey Tradition. For 81 proof, Wild Turkey 81 delivers more punch than most of the standard competition that weigh in at 80 proof. This seems to be the reason why it was created partly for the mixology wanting that real Bourbon flavor but without the proof that would completely “knock out” the rest of the spirits used in the cocktail.

The signature hallmark of a Wild Turkey Bourbon exists subtlety in a way that has never been expressed in Russell’s Reserve, Rare Breed or any other Wild Turkey Bourbons. Eddie, well done!

Finish: Opens up on the finish to heavier oak and the char #4 with hints of cinnamon candies.

Popularity: 19% [?]

BourbonBlog.com sold our soul to obtain one of the only bottles of Jim Beam Devil’s Cut known to exist. We did it to tempt you with this advanced review as it won’t be released  until May in select States and Summer 2011 nationwide.

This is the first Bourbon that we know of which uses fancy methods to pull whiskey which has been trapped deep inside the wood out of the barrel after the it has been dumped. This extracted Bourbon is added back to an extra-aged, 6-year Jim Beam Bourbon.

The result is a flavor with some fire, spice and sweetness that makes for a well-rounded sessionable Bourbon.

Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Review

Bourbon: Jim Beam Devil’s Cut

Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery, Clermont, Kentucky

Age: “Extra-aged” 6 years old Jim Beam Bourbon

Notes:For a more details on how the Bourbon is extracted from the wood, click here – Jim Beam Devil’s Cut

Proof: 90 Proof, 45% ABV

Color: Medium amber to rust

Nose: Diffusion of baking spices, oak, and nuttiness

Taste: While the Angels have taken their share out of the barrel, the Devil has left a Southern ambrosia here. The overwhelming notes are cinnamon and red hot candies, but not so prevalent that it becomes overly sweet. There is a buttery note on this which rounds out the spice, sweet and woody notes.

A bite of fire and kick on the swallow. Noticeable DNA of Beam Bourbons with hints of the Small Batch collection, including fragments of the lightness of Basil’s Hayden and boldness of Baker’s.

While Devil’s Cut is 90 proof, it drinks a bit friendlier and doesn’t feel like 90 in the mouth.

Finish: Mellow and warm.

Tasting notes and review by Tom Fischer of BourbonBlog.com

Popularity: 66% [?]

 

Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr.

BourbonBlog.com first told you about the Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. Bourbon, named after man who introduced the first climate controlled aging warehouses, used a patented sour mash technique, and fought for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. This new line of premium whiskeys bears his name and Buffalo Trace Distillery is introducing the first in the series as a recreated traditional sour mash.

This is being produced as a limited edition, one-time offering and we bring you our review here…

Colonel E. H. Taylor Jr. Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon Whiskey Review

Bourbon: Colonel E. H. Taylor Jr. Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon

Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky

Age: 9 years old

Proof: 100 Proof, 50% ABV

Color: Medium to deep amber

Nose: Heavy oak rounded with sugary aroma

Taste: A serious, full flavor that has the DNA of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, but also offers notes that can’t be found in any of these. Rich cinnamon, apricots, large bites of the best of the sweet and the best of the oak. If a glass of “Bold Bourbon Pie” existed, this could be it.

Finish: Luscious, smooth, and satisfying.

Popularity: 20% [?]

This is Straight Bourbon Whiskey straight out of the Hoosier State as another Bourbon shows that they’re coming from more States than just Kentucky. With the basketball rivalry between the I.U. Hoosiers and the U.K. Wildcats, how does will this Indiana Bourbon taste? We’re reviewing it below..and you know that we LOVE Kentucky Bourbon.

Tipton Spirits tells BourbonBlog.com that this is the “first Indiana Bourbon since Prohibition.” I recently met in Indiana with Jerry Knight CEO & Founder of Tipton Spirits. He and his team bring an extensive background of spirits into these bottles of Indiana Bourbon.

Jerry used to work at Diageo in New York, where he was the Crown Royal Brand Director and before that Director of Global Innovation. His partners in Tipton Spirits are all past executives from Diageo, Gallo, Miller, Jim Beam and Procter & Gamble.

With two unique bottlings and recipes as their first ever Bourbon releases including a Straight Bourbon at 80 proof and a barrel proof Governor’s Reserve at 114 proof, both Bourbons are currently sold in many stores, restaurants and bars across Indiana along with some  top spots in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR. They will expand to additional markets over time, so keep checking back here on BourbonBlog.com for those updates.

“I’m from Indiana, and knowing the state’s strength in agriculture I always felt like Indiana was a natural home for distilled spirits and especially Bourbon - corn is our #1 crop,” says Knight. “And, with great limestone water and plenty of barrel-quality Indiana oak in the southern part of the state, we have all the ingredients for great Indiana Bourbon. I still can’t believe there hasn’t been an Indiana Bourbon before now because it’s such a natural fit. We’re glad to be the first!”

The Bourbon is named in honor of William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), the Governor of the Indiana Territory and ninth President of the United States.

Knight says Tipton Spirits will release other spirits than Bourbon, including Desirée Vodka this Spring, keep updated by checking out their Vodka Facebook page here.  We’re impressed with theseIndiana Bourbons, here are the reviews…

W.H. Harrison Straight Bourbon Review

Bourbon: W.H. Harrison Straight Bourbon

Distillery: Distilled and barrel aged In Indiana for the Harrison Bourbon Co., Brazil Indiana

Age: Less than four years

Proof: 80 Proof, 40% ABV

Color: Light Amber

Notes: This recipe has high focus on corn.

Nose: Soft fruits, touch of vanilla and mildy floral

Taste: Approachable yet playful with hints of toffee, a buttery notes, sweetness, soft mouthfeel. This is straightforward pure Bourbon that speaks measures in its ability to have great flavor while being a classic winner. An excellent for mixing in your favorite cocktails or a stand alone sipper.

Finish: Clean and dry finish

W.H. Harrison Governor’s Reserve Barrel Proof Bourbon Review

Bourbon: W.H. Harrison Straight Bourbon

Distillery: Distilled and barrel aged In Indiana for the Harrison Bourbon Co., Brazil Indiana

Age: Less than Four Years

Proof: 114 Proof, 57% ABV

Color: Medium to deep amber, with nice clarity

Notes: This recipe has high focus on rye. This bottle is labeled “Batch 1″

Nose: Spice, cinnamon candies, rye with touch of oak

Taste: Some strong depth on this Bourbon with the spice and the rye and rounded with refined sweetness. Governor’s Reserve has some delicate and well-thought elements that make it reminiscent of a fresh French pastry and German strudel but enough rye characteristic to not make it overly sweet. The luscious flavors and layers are so pronounced that while it is bold, it doesn’t come across to the tongue with the heat of most 114 proof spirits. However, it still allows those of us who enjoy barrel proof whiskies to appreciate its strength and structure.

Finish: Lingering with mellow and relaxed feel

Popularity: 24% [?]

Early Times 354 Bourbon official launch party with BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer interviewing Master Distiller Chris Morris of Brown-Forman about this new release. Also, an on-camera review of Early Times 354 Bourbon review. As Chris Morris explains, Early Times was once a Bourbon whiskey before Brown-Forman’s decision in 1985 to make in a Kentucky Whisky due to the trend and popularity of lighter flavors at that time.

BourbonBlog.com‘s review of Early Times 354 Bourbon below

Early Times 354 Bourbon Review

Bourbon: Early Times 354 Bourbon

Distillery:Brown-Forman Distillers, Louisville, Kentucky

Proof: 80; approximately 40% ABV

Color: Light to medium amber

Nose: Vanilla, lightly spiced oak, caramel corn.

Taste: Approachable, corn forward, soft oak, and vanilla. The flavor has a slight similarity to Woodford Reserve and I distinctly notice the Brown-Forman cooperage signature. Delicate butterscotch and caramel corn with light yet richly sweet and surprisingly elegant tones.

Finish: Cleans up real nice, with a light user friendly linger.

Bourbon review by BourbonBlog.com‘s Tom Fischer & Stephen Dennison

Popularity: 18% [?]

For BourbonBlog.com‘s Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2010 tasting notes, we begin with the William Larue Weller, which is an uncut, unfiltered wheat recipe bourbon. Last year’s 2009 edition was named the best bourbon in the world by F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal.

As one of the few wheated Bourbons in the world, we find the 2010 William Larue Weller a boldy refined flavor with serious depth. We enjoy the intense heat at 126.6 proof, but recommend adding a few drops of water if you want to open up and experience the layers. Here is our review…

Bourbon: William Larue Weller 2010

Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky

Age: 12 years, 3 months. It was distilled in the summer of 1998 and aged on the fourth and ninth floors of Warehouses I and P.

Proof: 126.6 Proof, 63.3% ABV

Color: Medium Amber

Nose: Warming with a strong alcohol prevalence, wheat characteristics, tobacco, medium oak expression.

Taste: Alcohol expressed all over the tongue, and takes the palette on quite a journey from a start with dry and bold wheat to sweeter notes including maple, vanilla and a strong presence of Caramel corn.

Finish: Lingering with surprises of sweet caramel and toffee notes .

Bourbon review by Tom Fischer of BourbonBlog.com

Popularity: 17% [?]