E.H. Taylor Small Batch: What’s a Fair Price for This Buffalo Trace Whiskey?

First released in 2013, E.H. Taylor Small Batch is the entry-level expression in the Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. collection of American whiskeys.

Small Batch is a sought-after bourbon made at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky and, for drinkers of a certain age, it’s worth noting that E.H. Taylor is a different brand than Old Taylor.

Both are made by Buffalo Trace and both are named after the Colonel, but the former is a premium to super-premium brand while the latter is more modest (yet even more difficult to find).

Who makes E.H. Taylor Small Batch?

The whiskey is produced and made at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Unlike some of the distillery’s brand portfolio — such as Weller, George T. Stagg or Pappy Van Winkle — the E.H. Taylor line was created by Buffalo Trace and not gained through acquisition.

Is E.H. Taylor Small Batch rare?

Yes and no. It is the most accessible and affordable of all E.H. Taylor expressions, but none of the E.H. Taylor expressions are associated with accessibility or affordability.

Because Small Batch is the cornerstone item in the brand’s permanent collection, you will find it more often than limited one-off expressions from the brand, but it’s unlikely your liquor store will have bottles of Small Batch year-round.

Speaking of limited one-offs, they take the blame for making good ol’ Small Batch harder to find. Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon, Cured Oak, 18-Year Marriage and other one-offs drive collectors mad with their scarcity and four-figure secondhand market prices, and the more run-of-the-mill bottles look glossier for it.

If you’re interested in trying Small Batch, we recommend asking your local liquor store owner about availability, or jumping on a bottle if found for a fair price. What’s a fair price, you ask?

How much is E.H. Taylor Small Batch?

As with all Buffalo Trace Distillery bourbons, price is more conceptual than concrete. Buffalo Trace’s SRP for Small Batch is $40, which is a fine deal for a premium bourbon like this.

More often than not, you’ll pay around three times that price, per spirits pricing platform Wine-Searcher, which clocks the average price of a bottle at $124.

While you may not consider $120 a fair price for bourbon that ostensibly costs $40, that is roughly the going rate; anything below that price is in must-buy territory for most bourbon drinkers.

Photo by Will Sabel Courtney for Gear Patrol

How old is E.H. Taylor Small Batch?

E.H. Taylor Small Batch does not bear an age statement, but because it’s a Bottled-in-Bond spirit, we know it’s at least 4 years old, but more likely between 6 and 10 years old based on flavor profile and price.

The whiskey isn’t typically associated with youthful bourbon flavors, and Buffalo Trace’s namesake bourbon is a blend of 6-plus-year-old whiskey, lending credence to the idea that E.H. Taylor Small Batch spends longer than 4 years in a barrel.

What does E.H. Taylor Small Batch taste like?

We’ve tested the entire E.H. Taylor core line — which is made up of the Small Batch, the Single Barrel and the Straight Rye — and the Small Batch was our favorite of the three. Our reviewer noted the sweetness of the whiskey’s nose, comparing it to fragrant, fresh-made caramel. The palate is very soft with more caramelly sweetness and a hint of black licorice spice, while the finish brings a gentle tickle to the back of your throat with a whisper of gentle spice.

Read our full review of the E.H. Taylor core line of whiskeys

Buffalo Trace Distillery

E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon

• $110 at Rare Tequilias
  $130 (15% off)

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