EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 13(127.3) Bourbon Review

Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof is one of those bottles that never really lets you down. Batch to batch, year to year, it shows up and does the same thing — big, uncut, and unapologetically Buffalo Trace. That consistency is exactly why I keep coming back to it, and also, weirdly, why I hesitated on this one.

Batch 13 lands at 127.3 proof, right in the pocket where these barrel-proof releases usually sit. Nothing about that number is going to shock anyone who has spent time with the line, and that is kind of the point. E.H. Taylor Barrel is always consistent — unless you are the type who is out here chasing proof points.

So here is my slightly contrarian take before we even get to the glass: if you already have a couple of these open on the shelf, you probably do not need Batch 13 too. Not because it is bad — it is not — but because there is so much bourbon out there worth trying that doubling down on a bottle you already know feels like the less interesting move. Call it level-headed decision making.

That said, I poured it. Let's get into it.

The Bottle

Distillery: Buffalo Trace

Release: Ongoing

Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Uncut & Unfiltered)

Proof: 127.3 (63.65% ABV)

Age: NAS

Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low-Rye, Undisclosed)

MSRP: $80

First Impression: Stone fruit leads the nose — ripe apricot and peach — with a bright squeeze of citrus and a soft floral lift that keeps all that proof from feeling heavy.

On the Palate: Rich and dessert-like: brown sugar and warm cherry cobbler up front, with a dusting of cinnamon that gives it just enough spine to remind you it is 127 proof.

The Last Sip: The finish drifts into buttered popcorn and toasted oak, with baking spice lingering on the back end long after the sip.

Final Thoughts

None of this is a knock on the brand. E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof is a genuinely good, dependable barrel-proof bourbon, and Batch 13 holds the line the way every batch does. The consistency is the whole appeal.

But that same consistency is why I land where I land. If you have never had an E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof, absolutely grab one — it is a great example of what uncut Buffalo Trace can do. If you already have a bottle or two open, I would try this one at a bar or a bottle share before committing $80 to another. There is a lot of bourbon out there, and chasing decimal points on the proof is not the most rewarding way to spend it.

Recommendation

🟡 Try at a bar or bottle share