Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon Bottle

Made by hand, this Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey has been aged inside century old warehouses constructed by E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrels are evaluated and selected to create a perfect blend of distinctive character that is like no other. This bourbon is a true sipping bourbon that honors the uncompromising legacy of E.H. Taylor, Jr.
Old Fashioned Copper Distillery

JIM'S DESERT ISLAND WHISKEYS

Colonel E. H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Old Fashioned Copper Distillery (Buffalo Trace), Frankfort, KY
MASH BILL: Unknown but believed to be Buffalo Trace mash bill #1, the high corn mash bill.
AGE: No Age Statement. By law must be four years old. Some sources believe it to be 7 years old or greater.
YEAR: 2017
PROOF: 100 (50% ABV)
MSRP: $54.99
BUY ONLINE: Ace Spirits

NOSE: Caramel | Corn | Spiced Cherries | Toasted Oak

TASTE: Rye Spice | Oak | Faint Sweet Honey | Green Apple

FINISH: Medium with lingering sweetness and some grain

SHARE WITH: While young, this is a blend to share with your “drink curious” not too judgy friends.

WORTH THE PRICE: I found Ingram an interesting expression. I am generally a Midwest Grain Products fan, and I like to support craft distillers/blenders with innovative ideas. With all that being said, at over $70 for a less than 4-year-old, sourced, blended whiskey, this would be a tough sell for me.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: This whiskey is not a bust. It has interest and depth that you wouldn’t expect by its age. The blending is done well and with the innovative take on aging, I will give it a BAR rating. Try it first, if you can, before you buy. In the fifty dollar range, I would be tempted to go bottle.

OVERALL: O. H. Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey, I found interesting whiskey. Aged in a floating “rickhouse” at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, in Ballard County, Kentucky. The theory being the gentle rocking of the barrels enhances the aging process. This process has its roots in the river transport of barreled distillate from Bourbon County delivered to New Orleans, with the transformed taste that apocryphally led to our native spirit. Does it make a difference? I have no idea, but there are a lot of people putting barrels on ocean voyages, riverboats, playing music to them, and even aging in cranberry bogs.

I have an issue with brands using invented or unrelated stories to support the “marketing” of their spirits. I don’t see that as an issue with O.H. Ingram. They have family history tied to the river and actually age on floating barges. They don’t hide the source, age, or mash bills of their product. Starting from typically quality rye and bourbon distillate from MGP in Indiana, aging for over three years and blended well, has produced a straight whiskey. It has a surprising depth for a young age. I found it drinkable neat, better with ice, but not particularly suitable for cocktails. My only issue with this product is the price, which is high for what it is. Understanding that the cost of sourcing and barreling probably drives this cost. If you find it in a bar, or you have the resource and drinking curiosity, I would not dissuade you from giving this one a try.

O. H. Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey

O. H. Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey is the first release in the River Aged series. Combining traditional distilling practices with our innovative maturation process, we’ve created an extraordinary whiskey with exceptional character and smoothness.

Our Process

The process of river aging our barrels exposes them to the climate of the river and its drastic rise and fall. The river’s constant motion, and the friction it causes, ensures that our whiskey never stops working, creating a spirit mature beyond its years.

94 Points, The Tasting Panel Magazine

“River-aged barrels expose them to the drastic rise and fall of the water’s temperatures. The constant motion and friction of the river keep the barrels in motion, aiding in maturation of its 3-year minimum age statement. This 96-proofer is rye-based. Aromas of tangerine and butterscotch lead to a silky palate, coated with notes of crème brulée, marked with papaya, dried apricot and pine nuts. The long finish brings forth key lime pie and graham cracker crust.”

APPEARANCE: Amber, honey, gold, medium viscosity, clear.

ON THE NOSE: Mid-age (6-8 years), honey, aged newsprint, butterscotch, Cherrywood

MOUTHFEEL: Warm, velvety

PALATE: Stone fruit, dried apricot, raisin, honeycomb, caramel

FINISH: Long, soft baking spices, cinnamon and allspice, warm rye spice, honey, citrus, orange peel.

NOSE: Brown Sugar | Vanilla | Cherries | Nuts | Some Alcohol

TASTE: Vanilla | Wood | Spice

FINISH: A creamy start on the front of the tongue that turns into a burst of lingering spice on the back of the mouth and tongue. Nice warming of the chest.

SHARE WITH: I would share this with anyone who enjoys or wants to try a good bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE: The MSRP is $39.99. At this price it is well worth the purchase.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: There are very few bourbons out now that I want to buy a bottle of without trying at a bar. If you have never tried this and are not sure, I would urge you to give it a try at a bar. If you like Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 go ahead and get a bottle if you don’t already have one.

OVERALL: Very few bourbons epitomize Bourbon Heritage Month like Colonel E. H. Taylor Bottled in Bond. If you are interested in learning more about the Bottled in Bond Act, click here. I think the EHT Small Batch is the best bourbon for the money on the market. To me, you just can’t beat this one for the price. A great sipping bourbon that is also great on the rocks as well. Sometimes it is a little hard to find, and here in Virginia, it is released by a limited product lottery. If you are willing to search the internet, however, it can usually be found on line for its suggested price. Yes, I am a big fan of Buffalo Trace products, and I like everything they produce. The EHT Small Batch is a great bourbon to have around.

As founding father of the bourbon industry, Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. left an indelible legacy. His dedication to distilling began at the close of the Civil War when he purchased O.F C. Distillery. There, he developed innovative techniques that are still in use today. Made by hand, this Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey has been aged inside century old warehouses constructed by E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrels are evaluated and selected to create a perfect blend of distinctive character that is like no other. This bourbon is a true sipping bourbon that honors the uncompromising legacy of E.H. Taylor, Jr.

TASTING NOTES:

Tastes of caramel corn sweetness, mingled with butterscotch and licorice. The aftertaste is a soft mouth-feel that turns into subtle spices of pepper and tobacco.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Stang

Sr. Contributor | Bourbon & Banter

Lee’s bourbon journey started with one mistaken gulp of bourbon and coke as an eight-year-old. While bourbon was always part of his life, Lee followed a beer, wine path for the most part until a bartender poured him a taste of Buffalo Trace about ten years ago. It was at that point Lee’s love of bourbon really took off. Not only does Lee enjoy a good pour of bourbon but he is more than willing and excited to talk about it. Lee believes that bourbon, and for that matter all spirits, is enhanced by the experience of good company, good conversation and good bars. The combination leads to great stories. Say hi to him when you see him. Lee lives in Leesburg, VA, with his wife, best friend, and drinking partner, Patti. You might find her having a bourbon as well. Both Lee and Patti like to read mystery thrillers and travel. Most likely the travel leads to visits to new bars. Read Lee's full profile.

About the Author

Lee Stang

jacob jan van der oort says:

November 7, 2019 at 4:15 pm

Absolutely agree with your comments on the EHT small batch. Living a block away from Buffalo Trace, knowing Freddie, Harlen and several others that work there we are fortunate to get invited to special events at times. I also receive a “heads up” when product (EHT, Blantons) appears on the shelf. My wife was extremely fortunate to be invited to a private tasting with Harlen during which the sampled the entire antique collection. She smuggled out a couple left overs for me to taste.