E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon

Some Buffalo Trace bourbon is overhyped, but I believe this one is worth the cost if under $80. If you've never tried it and want to splurge on a hard-to-find bottle, go for it. Nose: Absolutely fantastic. A perfect score. It's like an ice cream cone with ideal vanilla ice cream. It's not overly intricate because it doesn't need to be. Very approachable. Palate: Intriguing. I detected a different flavor on the roof of my mouth compared to my tongue, perhaps a bit spicier on the roof. That might have just been me. It still tastes significantly less potent than it is, yet the flavor persists. Many of the same notes as the nose are present here. Perhaps add some blueberries to the ice cream. Finish: Still incredibly smooth. There's absolutely nothing unpleasant throughout this entire experience. If this were available for $50, it would be my regular drink. Hopefully, Buffalo Trace increases production of this so it becomes easier to find, but it truly is a good pour.

My children visited Kentucky with my in-laws and I was fortunate they stopped at the Buffalo Trace shop when this was available. What a pleasant surprise to open this bottle and be impressed by such a well-balanced Bourbon! Compared to other Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys I've tried, this one ranks very high. The blend of sweetness and spice is fantastic! On the nose, it initially suggests a warm cinnamon roll. There's a sweet bread, like a donut combined with cinnamon. Further nosing reveals cola, similar to root beer but without excessive sweetness. And again, the aroma of sweet bread, vanilla cake with ginger, persists. On the palate, it's sweet like a Red Hot candy. Or perhaps sweet first, with brown sugar and molasses, then followed by a Red Hot sensation. It finishes with a very prominent cinnamon, but it's not unpleasant. On the contrary, it's very smooth! Cheers!

This has become my go-to bourbon recently. It's been three years since my last review of EHT Small Batch, but the tasting notes are largely consistent. Notes of chocolate-covered cherries, pipe tobacco, vanilla, tangerine, and caramel are present. It's sweet with a slight viscosity on the palate. A pleasant cinnamon red-hot sensation arrives on the finish, which is long with more caramel and vanilla. For me, the tangerine and pipe tobacco combination on the nose, and to a lesser extent on the palate, is what makes this bourbon unique and stand out. It's distinct. EHT Small Batch can be found for approximately $80. Would I buy it again? Yes. (This was the final pour from the bottle; only one remains in stock). Score: 4.25. Bottled in Bond. 50% ABV.

A robust, Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey from Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, made with low-rye mash #1; it was aged for at least 4 years in new American oak and bottled at 100 proof. It opens with an aromatic profile of grain, stone fruits, flowers, wood, and spices; its substantial body introduces notes of freshly popped corn, almond butter, fudge, caramel apples, tart fresh cherries, pumpkin spice, butterscotch, and cinnamon; culminating in a balanced, medium-length finish with hints of oak tannins, elderflower, and vanilla crème brûlée. June / July 2022

The aroma is warm, sweet with a touch of cinnamon. Possibly some tobacco, quite pleasing. The palate is very rich and smooth, reminiscent of vanilla ice cream, followed by a long, sweet caramel finish. It doesn't drink like its stated proof, and I suspect the alcohol content prevents it from being purely a dessert drink. It's delicious and offers a slight departure from the bourbons I've recently been trying. It's very smooth, with an outstanding caramel finish. I highly recommend it.

Nice viscosity, exhibiting some of the most impressive legs a whiskey has left on a glass. The aroma is sweet, with hints of vanilla and marshmallow, but lacks significant depth beyond those few, similar notes. An easy sipper. The sweetness detected in the aroma is present upfront on the palate. A slight burn occurs in the mid-palate, transitioning to a subtle leather note, with sweetness returning. The finish is medium. Very enjoyable, and it's good to see it becoming more readily available again.