Colonel E.H. Taylor Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey

This E.H. Taylor Four Grain whiskey is made from a distinct bourbon mash of corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley. Distilled in 2005 it entered into the barrel at 104 proof. These are the four grains E.H.Taylor would have had access to in the late 1800s.As the United States was recovering from the American Civil War in 1865, Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. was ready to embark on a new business venture, having profited from the trading of grains such as corn during the war. Taylor purchased a small distillery on the banks of the Kentucky River with a vision of producing top quality whiskey distinguished from all others of that time. Taylor knew exceptional whiskey could only be crafted by using the finest ingredients, and his time selling grains during the war taught him that grains often varied tremendously from different farmers and harvests. This special edition Four Grain bourbon is crafted just as Taylor would have wanted at the start of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Using the highest quality grains and a distinct combination of corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley, to create a flavor that is sweet with hints of caramel and vanilla, yet spicy with notes of clove and pepper. After twelve years of aging, this impeccably balanced bourbon embodies the character of the man that would expect no less.This bourbon opens with an inviting aroma, with the first sip bringing a lot of character. Caramel notes are touched by sweet vanilla and caramel corn, then underwritten by slightly smoky flavors and oak tannins. It maintains a smooth evenness between the four grains interacting with the charred oak barrel. Overall, a nice balance, and unique whiskey.ABOUT E.H. TAYLORE.H. Taylor, Jr. was a visionary in the whiskey world with a mind for distilling that was years ahead of its time. He founded a world class Distillery, made advancements to the industry, and fought for the purity and legitimacy of bourbon gaining him the title of the “Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry.”Taylor is celebrated for the countless innovations he contributed to the bourbon industry in his time. His first involvement in the industry came as a banker, aiding in the organization and financing of several distilleries. Through his experience as a banker, Taylor became personally acquainted with several prominent whiskey makers. Taylor’s 1869 purchase of a small Leestown distillery that he christened O.F.C. was his first foray into distilling, making an immediate mark on the industry by modernizing, expanding and upgrading the plant. Among his innovations were copper fermentation tanks, state-of-the-art grain equipment, column stills, modernized buildings, a more efficient sour mash technique and a first-of-its-kind steam heating system still used in the barrel warehouses today.