I recently snagged a bottle of colonel eh taylor rye after seeing it sit behind the glass at my local shop for way too long. If you've spent any time in the whiskey world lately, you know that anything coming out of Buffalo Trace with a tube around it is basically treated like liquid gold. But rye is a different beast than bourbon. While everyone is fighting over Eagle Rare or Blanton's, the EH Taylor Rye often sits in this weird middle ground where people know it's good, but they aren't always sure if it's worth the "allocated" price tag.
After spending a few nights with this bottle, I've got some thoughts. It's not your typical rye whiskey, and honestly, that's probably why I like it so much. It doesn't follow the standard "high-rye" or "barely-legal" rye templates that most distilleries use, and that makes the whole experience feel a bit more intentional.
The Man and the Bonded Label
Before we get into how it actually tastes, we have to talk about why this bottle looks the way it does. The "Colonel" in the name refers to Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr., who is basically the godfather of modern bourbon. He was the guy pushing for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. If you see "Bottled-in-Bond" on a label today, it's because he wanted to make sure people weren't drinking whiskey cut with tobacco spit or acid back in the day.
The colonel eh taylor rye carries that Bottled-in-Bond distinction proudly. This means it's the product of one distilling season, by one distiller, at one distillery. It's aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse and bottled at exactly 100 proof. There's a sense of reliability there. You know exactly what you're getting, and there's no hiding behind a lower proof or a blend of young spirits.
A Very Unusual Mashbill
One of the coolest things about this specific rye is what's not in it. Most ryes you find on the shelf, especially those coming out of Kentucky, contain a fair amount of corn. To be legally called a rye, it only needs to be 51% rye grain. The rest is usually corn and a bit of malted barley. That corn adds sweetness and softens the "spice" that rye is known for.
However, the colonel eh taylor rye is widely believed to be a "high-rye" recipe that contains no corn at all. It's just rye and malted barley. This is a bold move for a distillery like Buffalo Trace, which is known for its sweet, corn-heavy bourbon profiles. By ditching the corn, they've created a flavor profile that is remarkably clean and focused. It's spicy, sure, but it's not that harsh, "burning" spice you get from young, cheap ryes. It's more of an elegant, herbal complexity.
What Does It Actually Taste Like?
When you crack open that iconic yellow tube and pour a glass, the first thing you notice is the aroma. It doesn't punch you in the face with dill or pickle juice like some MGP ryes do. Instead, it's much more floral. I get a lot of dried dark fruits—think raisins or plums—mixed with a heavy dose of black pepper and cinnamon. There's also this weirdly pleasant "musty" quality that people often call the "Taylor funk." It sounds gross, but in the glass, it feels like walking into an old library.
The first sip is where the 100 proof really shines. It has a great mouthfeel—creamy and thick, which is surprising for a rye without corn. You get that initial hit of baking spices, but then it transitions into something sweeter, like butterscotch or salted caramel. Because there's no corn, the sweetness feels different; it's more like a honeyed sweetness than a sugary one.
The finish is where I think this bottle earns its keep. It lingers for a long time. It's got a bit of that "Kentucky Hug," but it's gentle. You're left with a taste of cloves and maybe a little bit of orange peel. It's the kind of whiskey that makes you want to sit by a fireplace and ignore your phone for an hour.
Is It Worth the Hunt?
This is the question that everyone asks, and it's a tough one to answer. If you can find colonel eh taylor rye at its suggested retail price (usually around $70 or $80), it's an absolute no-brainer. At that price point, it's one of the best ryes on the market, hands down. It's more complex than Pikesville and more refined than Willett 4-Year.
The problem, as with all things Buffalo Trace, is the secondary market. I've seen shops trying to move this bottle for $150 or even $200. Is it a $200 bottle of whiskey? Probably not. At that price, you're paying for the brand and the cool tube, not just the liquid. But if you see it for a "fair" price—maybe a little over MSRP—I'd say grab it at least once. It's a benchmark rye that every enthusiast should try.
How to Drink It
I'm usually a "drink it however you like" kind of person, but I'd really suggest drinking this one neat first. Because it's Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof, it's already at a great "goldilocks" strength. It's strong enough to carry all those flavors but not so hot that it'll numb your tongue.
If you do want to mix it, it makes an incredible Sazerac. The herbal notes in the rye play perfectly with the absinthe and bitters. That said, using an allocated bottle for a cocktail feels a bit like using a vintage Ferrari to go to the grocery store. It'll get the job done, and you'll look cool doing it, but it might be a bit overkill.
Final Thoughts
There's a lot of noise in the whiskey community right now, and it's easy to get cynical about allocated bottles. But honestly, the colonel eh taylor rye reminds me why Buffalo Trace has the reputation it does. They took a risk by going with a corn-less mashbill and sticking to the Bottled-in-Bond requirements, and it really paid off.
It's a sophisticated, balanced, and genuinely interesting pour. It doesn't try to be a "bourbon drinker's rye" by loading it with sweet corn notes. Instead, it leans into the grain and lets the rye do the talking. Whether you're a long-time rye fan or someone just starting to branch out from bourbon, this bottle is a classic for a reason. If you happen to spot that yellow tube on a shelf and the price isn't totally insane, do yourself a favor and bring it home. It's one of those rare instances where the juice actually lives up to the legend.