Sips & Sites & Bites

There are whiskey releases… and then there are Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. releases.

This spring, Buffalo Trace Distillery is bringing back two of the most talked-about bottles in the Taylor lineup: Four Grain and Cured Oak. For bourbon collectors, enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys tracking down something special, this is one of those announcements that immediately gets attention.

And honestly, it’s easy to see why.

The return of Four Grain feels especially significant because it’s now becoming an annual limited release. Originally introduced in 2017, the bourbon takes a different path than most traditional mash bills by combining corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley all in one recipe. That may sound simple on paper, but in the bourbon world, rye and wheat usually live separate lives. Together, they create something layered, balanced, and a little unexpected.

Distilled back in 2015 and aged for ten years, the 100-proof bourbon reportedly brings notes of caramel, vanilla, chocolate, and a lingering spice that keeps things interesting without overpowering the sweeter side of the whiskey.

Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley called Four Grain a “graduated experiment,” which might be one of the more bourbon-nerd phrases ever spoken … but it also explains why fans gravitated toward it in the first place. The whiskey started as a deliberate exploration of flavor combinations and eventually evolved into a bottle worthy of sticking around.

Then there’s Cured Oak, a bourbon that has developed something close to cult status since its original 2015 release.

What makes Cured Oak different is the barrel treatment itself. The white oak staves used for the barrels were air-dried for 13 months, more than double the standard curing time. That extra patience allows the wood to develop deeper character before the bourbon ever touches the barrel.

The result is a 100-proof Bottled-in-Bond bourbon with notes of tobacco, dried fruit, vanilla, toffee, and seasoned oak, finishing long and dry in a way that serious bourbon drinkers tend to appreciate.

It’s also another reminder that barrel craftsmanship can dramatically shape a whiskey long before the bottle hits a shelf.

Of course, none of this happens without the legacy of Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. himself. Often called the “Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry,” Taylor helped establish many of the production standards still used today after purchasing the O.F.C. Distillery, now Buffalo Trace, back in 1869. He also played a major role in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which still carries serious weight in American whiskey.

That history gives these releases a little extra gravity. They’re not just limited bottles chasing hype … they’re tied directly to one of bourbon’s foundational names.

Both expressions arrive in May 2026 with a suggested retail price of $79.99 per 750ml bottle, though bourbon fans already know the phrase “suggested retail” can become more of a suggestion once bottles hit the secondary frenzy.

Four Grain will be available at Buffalo Trace Distillery, the Sazerac House Gift Shop, and select retailers in Kentucky and Louisiana. Cured Oak will see a broader but still limited national release through Sazerac’s distribution network.

For more information, visit Buffalo Trace Distillery.