Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — Batch 9, 130.3 Proof
.mw-master-container{ --mw-accent: #BF9310; /* gold-yellow foil — signature master palette */ --mw-glow: #C24A12; /* amber liquid/label — signature master palette */ --mw-bg: #140F 0C; /* deep brown-black — signature master palette */ --mw-text:#e0e0e0; --mw-muted:#b8b8b8; --mw-hair:#222; font-family: inherit; background:var(--mw-bg); color:var(--mw-text); line-height:1.7; padding:24px; margin-bottom:60px; } .mw-master-container .mw-h3{ color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; text-transform:uppercase; font-size:0.9rem; letter-spacing:2px; margin-top:40px; display:block; border-bottom:1px solid var(--mw-glow); padding-bottom:8px; margin-bottom:20px; } .mw-master-container .mw-accent{ color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; text-decoration:none; } .mw-master-container .mw-accent:hover{ color:#fff; text-decoration:underline; } .mw-master-container .mw-info-box{ background:linear-gradient(90deg, var(--mw-bg) 0%, var(--mw-glow) 100%); padding:25px; margin:25px 0; border-radius:0 4px 4px 0; border:1px solid var(--mw-hair); border-left:4px solid var(--mw-accent); } .mw-master-container .mw-grid{ display:grid; grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr; gap:30px; margin:30px 0; } .mw-master-container .mw-card{ background:rgba(255,255,255,0.02); padding:25px; border:1px solid var(--mw-glow); border-radius:4px; } .mw-master-container .mw-table{ width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; margin-top:15px; } .mw-master-container .mw-table td{ padding:14px 0; border-bottom:1px solid var(--mw-hair); color:#ccc; font-size:0.95rem; } .mw-master-container .mw-table td:first-child{ font-weight:bold; width:38%; color:var(--mw-accent); text-transform:uppercase; font-size:0.75rem; letter-spacing:1px; } .mw-master-container details{ background:rgba(255,255,255,0.03); border:1px solid var(--mw-hair); border-radius:4px; margin-bottom:15px; } .mw-master-container summary{ padding:18px; color:var(--mw-accent); font-weight:bold; cursor:pointer; outline:none; list-style:none; display:flex; justify-content:space-between; align-items:center; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1px; font-size:0.85rem; } .mw-master-container summary::after{ content:'+'; font-size:1.2rem; color:var(--mw-accent); } .mw-master-container details[open]{ border:1px solid var(--mw-accent); } .mw-master-container details[open] summary::after{ content:'-'; } .mw-master-container .details-content{ padding:0 20px 20px 20px; font-size:0.95rem; } @media (max-width:768px){ .mw-master-container .mw-grid{ grid-template-columns:1fr; } } Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 9 is the 2020 release, bottled uncut and unfiltered at 130.3 proof (65.15% ABV) — the ninth in the line, and the first batch back over 130 proof since the 2013 release. A Buffalo Trace low-rye bourbon reviewers call grounded and classic, it leads with buttered pecans, dark brown sugar, tobacco, and oak. E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof shows no batch number; the 130.3 proof, held by no other release, identifies it. The Elemental Distinction Uncut and unfiltered barrel proof structural density tracking at 130.3 proof (65.15% ABV). The official ninth master release installment of the highly coveted annual small-batch sequence, allocated in 2020. Stands as the historic milestone that broke a seven-year streak of sub-130 proof expressions, climbing back to peak cask strength. Classic, heavily grounded flavor architecture highlighting rich buttered pecans, dense brown sugar, old tobacco leaf, and massive oak extractives. Because 130.3 proof is completely unique to the Batch 9 footprint, it serves as its own definitive signature along the glass-etched L20 line stamp. Crafted from low-rye Mash Bill #1 inside Frankfort, Kentucky (DSP-KY-113). Sensory Profile Nose: Toasted buttered pecans, dark brown molasses sugar, and deep pipe tobacco merge with thick oak tannins, accented by dark raspberry and crisp red apple skins underneath. Palate: High-velocity heat balanced by immense grounding; velvety soft brown sugar and macerated dark fruits transition to vanilla bean paste, heavy seasoned wood oak, and deep burnt caramel. Finish: Substantially long and warming, leaning into refreshing minty menthol, toasted coffee beans, and cinnamon-nut structures before drying out on clean oak char. Strategic Position Batch 9 remains a cornerstone vintage for collectors pursuing the unblended series at its absolute structural maximum. Praised for delivering a traditional, heavy-sugar weight that masterfully buffers its high ethanol velocity, it represents a rock-solid, incredibly consistent blending profile that completely eliminates batch-variation risk. It captures the timeline directly succeeding Batch 8, the 2019 release. Evaluate alternative allocations inside the other E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof batches. Technical Specifications Distillery Buffalo Trace Distillery (DSP-KY-113), Frankfort, Kentucky Producer Sazerac Company Category Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Proof / ABV 130.3 proof · 65.15% ABV (Barrel Strength Cask Run) Batch Hierarchy Batch 9 (No printed numerical index; unique 130.3 configuration combined with L20 glass code verifies year) Mash Bill Matrix Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low-Rye Core Platform < 10% Rye) Age Statement None (Non-Age-Stated; harvested from select warehouse wood barrels aged ~7–10 years) Filtration Matrix Completely Uncut · Non-Chill-Filtered Release History Batch 9 — 2020 Master Allocation Run Distinction First batch back over 130 proof since 2013; celebrated for its steady, classic, un-flashy mouthfeel parameters Bottle Size 750 ml Origin Terroir United States · Kentucky Collector Note Because standard signature yellow labels preserve historic 19th-century aesthetics without displaying batch numerals, authentication of Batch 9 relies completely on auditing the glass matrix. Look for the distinct 130.3 proof index on the face combined with an "L20" laser stamp line near the lower baseline to verify this specific 2020 allocation. Every bottle includes the signature ochre-yellow presentation tube. Protect asset status by cellaring upright inside a dark vault shelf. Production Methodology Drawn from the same low-rye mash platform celebrated for its deep complexity, Batch 9 spent up to a decade resting inside the brick-and-wood confines of the producer's century-old warehouse network. Filled straight to glass completely uncut and un-watered, it retains all natural wood vanillins and essential corn oils responsible for its unctuous, syrupy weight on the mid-palate. Authentication & Vault Preservation Every bottle offered through Midnight Whiskey is sourced exclusively via verified allocation paths, vault-preserved under optimal temperature baselines, and meticulously verified for seal integrity before dispatch. Shipments are packaged in heavily protective single-bottle container cartons and require an age-verified 21+ adult signature at delivery. Review our standards via the bottle vetting we do, explore holding and shipping your order, and study what we put in a listing. Frequently Asked Questions What proof is E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 9? Batch 9 is bottled at 130.3 proof (65.15% ABV), uncut and unfiltered, from 2020. The label carries no batch number, so the proof identifies it, and 130.3 is unique to Batch 9 (laser code L20). The figure is what the barrels gave. Is E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 9 a high-proof release? Yes — at 130.3 proof, the 2020 Batch 9 is the first E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof to climb back over 130 since the 2013 release (Batch 2); the six batches in between all came in under 130. Reviewers describe it as grounded and classic rather than flashy — buttered pecans, dark brown sugar, tobacco, and oak, drinking a touch heavier than its neighbors — and note its consistency, with little risk of a weak batch.