Bourbon producer Buffalo Trace extends E.H. Taylor to its sought-after Antique Collection lineup.
Helluva News in the Whiskey World: Welcome, E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon!
You might've heard the buzz - this autumn, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) is about to witness a groundshaking event! For the first time in nearly two decades, a newbie's joining the group and it's a whopper. Buffalo Trace Distillery has confirmed the exciting arrival of E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, slated to become part of the 2025 BTAC collection.
Need a refresher on this bad boy? It's about time we paid tribute to Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., the whiskey trailblazer who's earned the title "Father of Modern Bourbon." That's right - ol' Colonel Taylor's namesake brand is hopping aboard the BTAC, leaving fans and collectors on pins and needles.
Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director for Buffalo Trace Distillery, could hardly contain his excitement: "As a decidedly stand-up guy who shaped bourbon quality in the industry, not just for Buffalo Trace, but for the whole kit and caboodle, it's damn high time that Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr.'s namesake brand takes its well-deserved place among the collection."
Snug Fit for the BTAC
Known for its limited annual releases, the Antique Collection showcases precious, long-aged, admittedly high-proof barrels hand-selected from Buffalo Trace's extensive warehouses. The typical lineup includes classics like:
- George T. Stagg
- William Larue Weller
- Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye
- Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old
- Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old
Each of these whiskeys are expertly aged, exceptionally rare, and rumored to be nothing short of, well, out of sight. So, what's the deal with E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond? Expect a 100-proof, single-season, federally bonded bourbon that promises to upstage even your wildest expectations.
While the standard Bottled-in-Bond expression is a consumer favorite in the $40-60 range, this BTAC release is rumored to feature even more aging, astonishing rarity, and, dare we say, deeper barrel selection. That puts it in the same league as heavy hitters like Stagg and Weller in terms of prestige.
The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr.
When Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. purchased the O.F.C. Distillery back in 1869 (which is now Buffalo Trace), he had no idea that his influence would ripple through time, changing the landscape of American whiskey. Innovative and relentless, Taylor modernized the distillery with frightening copper fermentation tanks, sleek grain handling systems, and super-efficient steam-heated warehouses (some of which are still going strong today).
Taylor also played a critical role in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the first piece of federal legislation to establish standards for whiskey production and labeling. The act:
- Introduced the concept of government-regulated whiskey purity.
- Defined what constituted a "straight" whiskey.
- Mandated a minimum of four years of aging.
- Required the spirit to be the product of one distillation season, one distiller, and one distillery-all bottled at 100 proof under federal supervision.
By standing up for what's right (and proper), Colonel Taylor helped consumers by introducing protections against counterfeit and adulterated spirits, which was particularly important during a time when such shifty practices were rampant. The new BTAC release will bear Taylor's signature, just as his original bottles once did.
Implications for Whiskey Devotees
This shake-up means good things for collectors - an exciting new label for the BTAC is a rare event, last happening over 20 years ago. With popular BTAC expressions already commanding hefty secondary market prices and being the subject of annual lotteries, expect the heat to get turned up. The introduction of E.H. Taylor in the BTAC signals a strengthening of the brand's long-term positioning as a cornerstone of Buffalo Trace's prestige portfolio.
Though Buffalo Trace has yet to spill the beans on details like age statement, mashbill, or barrel selection, your boy guesses they'll be impressive. The standard Bottled-in-Bond release features Mashbill #1, a low-rye bourbon mash, so there's a solid chance that the BTAC edition will follow suit with extra aging and BTAC-level curation, making it one of the better-balanced and historically resonant entries in the collection.
So, keep your eyes on this fall for the 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection-including the debut of E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond BTAC Edition-to arrive in in-demand, limited allocations.
- The upcoming BTAC collection will witness a noteworthy addition in the form of E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, a long-awaited release after nearly two decades.
- This new whiskey is rumored to boast more aging, rarity, and deeper barrel selection, placing it alongside the prestigious whiskeys like George T. Stagg and William Larue Weller within the BTAC collection.
- Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., the pioneer of modern bourbon, will be honored by his namesake brand's entry into the BTAC, a testament to his influential role in the whiskey industry.
- With the arrival of E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond BTAC Edition, whiskey enthusiasts can expect increased demand, racketing up prices and drawing attention to the brand's solidified position as a cornerstone of Buffalo Trace's prestigious portfolio. This fall, collectors will want to remain vigilant for its limited allocations, as it represents a milestone in the whiskey world.
