This Is the Best-Tasting Rye Whiskey of the Year, Period

Part of Buffalo Trace's most esteemed whiskey collection, the bottle sells quickly. But this one's more than worth the spend.

The new Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye is the 13th release in the esteemed whiskey collection from Buffalo Trace. The latest hooch, just the second rye in the collection thus far, hits glass at a steamy 126 proof. 

But its assertiveness at that proof was compelling enough that master distiller Harlen Wheatley was willing to eschew the bottled in bond classification typically seen from these releases, all in service of flavor. (Anything bottled in bond must be at least four years in age, sourced from a single distillery during a single distillation season, and bottled at 100 proof).

“Spirits enthusiasts know that there is no experience quite like tasting a whiskey in its truest, untouched form—straight from the barrel,” Wheatley said in a press release. “Barrel Proof Rye takes the beloved recipe of Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye Whiskey to a new level and brings a new release that perfectly complements the E.H. Taylor, Jr. Collection.”

It's an herbaceous, peppery sipper that tickles the nose upon first pour. Smell it from a snifter and you might suss out spicy trail mix studded with stone fruit. Of course, the real joy of the juice shines in the sip. It tastes like a luscious peaches-and-cream kind of confection. It coats the tongue in a honeyed body but ultimately delivers a drying essence—in the form of caraway seed—across the finish.

The parting note makes our mouths want to keep coming back for more. But our minds and wallets know better. This wondrous one-off is to be savored. We don’t know when—or if—it’ll be back again. And we’re certain we won’t see it anywhere near its $80 suggested retail price. 

With a little luck, however, it’ll remain closer in sight than the most coveted E.H. Taylor release of them all, Old Fashioned Sour Mash. That unicorn, last unveiled over a decade ago, is typically listed online at over $20,000 a bottle. It’s enough to make the eponymous Colonel turn in his grave. Because we’re pretty sure the only thing he liked more than excellent whiskey was purchasing it at retail. 

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. died just over a century ago. But his impact on the world of whiskey is as profound today as ever. During his time as owner of the distillery now known as Buffalo Trace, he lobbied Congress to pass the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. The legislation helped ensure the quality and consistency of bourbon and was among the very first laws dedicated to safeguarding consumer products (the Food and Drug Administration wouldn’t be established for another nine years).

Buffalo Trace, in turn, safeguarded his legacy a little over a decade ago by launching a collection named after the legend. As with most output from that old Kentucky home, it became beloved by connoisseurs. In addition to the flagship Small Batch Bourbon, which remains relatively attainable, the lineup has included a number of limited-edition liquids.

Related: 16 Best Rye Whiskeys to Spice Up a Sazerac or Manhattan