Let’s be honest, there are bourbon releases, and then there are moments in whiskey history that feel like the clouds parting and the angels singing. This is the latter. Say hello to the just-released Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council from Buffalo Trace … a rare, reverent, and remarkable new expression that takes everything we thought we knew about bourbon and adds a hundred-proof exclamation point.
First things first: this bottle is not your everyday pour. It’s a limited-edition, ultra-premium Kentucky Straight Bourbon, crafted with the kind of obsessive detail that only Buffalo Trace could pull off. We’re talking about a whiskey that traces its DNA all the way back to the 1800s … literally. This isn’t a tribute; it’s a time capsule.
The inspiration? A little-known but incredibly influential 1996 gathering at Buffalo Trace (then George T. Stagg Distillery), where a group of bourbon greats … including names like Elmer T. Lee and Harlen Wheatley … sat around tasting dozens of whiskeys. One observation stuck: “We don’t make whiskey the way we used to.” That moment sparked a deep-dive into Colonel Taylor’s original methods, methods that had largely vanished with time. What they unearthed became the foundation for this new release.
Distiller’s Council resurrects E.H. Taylor’s trailblazing techniques, from his custom sour mash process (yes, Buffalo Trace literally filed a patent on the revived method) to a mash bill and fermentation style that mirror the golden age of bourbon. It’s a nod to Taylor’s legacy as the “Father of Modern Bourbon,” the man who helped usher in the Bottled-in-Bond Act and modern distilling standards.
Oh, and let’s talk presentation. This stunner comes in a vintage-style Grecian glass decanter, modeled after a 1950s Old Taylor ad spotted in TIME and Playboy. If your bar cart has been waiting for a showpiece, this is it.
But, as always, exclusivity has its price: $1,499.99 (750ml), rolling out in select locations starting this month. Yes, it’s a splurge. But for true collectors, history buffs, or anyone who dreams of sipping bourbon the way Colonel Taylor intended, it’s worth every drop.
This marks the 14th release in the E.H. Taylor line and, in fall 2025, the brand’s first-ever appearance in the coveted Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. A new chapter in bourbon’s most celebrated legacy? We’ll raise a glass to that.
More details and where to find a bottle:
https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/e-h-taylor-jr
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