In the quiet corners of Kentucky, where limestone-rich waters shape whiskey into poetry, Buffalo Trace Distillery has unearthed a ghost from America’s bourbon past. Introducing the Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council — a limited-edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon that is as much a resurrection as it is a revelation.
At 100 proof, this new expression is the closest modern distillation of the bourbon Taylor himself shepherded into being at the O.F.C. Distillery (now Buffalo Trace) during the 19th century. It’s the sort of bottle that makes seasoned collectors lean forward and casual drinkers whisper in awe: a bourbon born from Taylor’s own pioneering methods, guided by his obsessive devotion to detail.
The story starts in 1996, when a circle of bourbon veterans gathered at Buffalo Trace, trading war stories over 30 different whiskey samples. One voice broke the spell: “Well, we don’t make whiskey the way we used to.” And so began a deep dive into the old ways — a rediscovery of Taylor’s lost sour mash techniques, his wild spirit of innovation, and the bourbon craftsmanship that shaped an industry.
Buffalo Trace’s master distiller Harlen Wheatley captures the emotion: “His legacy left a profound impact on everyone that day. We hope they’re raising a glass alongside the Colonel himself — enjoying their share of the angels’ portion.”
Beyond the lore, this release is a living tribute to Taylor’s ingenuity. From patent-pending sour mash methods to his original fermentation processes, the bourbon is practically a liquid time machine. Aged in a nod to the 1880s yet bottled in a 1950s-style Grecian glass decanter (a design plucked from vintage Old Taylor ads), it bridges centuries with a single pour.
Available starting July 2025, this rare bottling will retail for $1,499.99 (750ml), reaching bars, restaurants, and collectors’ shelves nationwide — a price that signals its status as a future classic rather than a fleeting indulgence.
Taylor, once dubbed the “Father of Modern Bourbon,” didn’t just shape a distillery; he set an entire industry ablaze with his vision. Today, Buffalo Trace raises his standard higher still, crafting a bourbon that feels both historic and defiantly new.
For more on the Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Collection, visit Buffalo Trace Distillery’s official website.
