Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Old Fashioned Sour Mash is one of the most historically significant limited releases in the E.H. Taylor collection. Introduced by Buffalo Trace in 2011 as a one-time release, it was the first whiskey issued in the modern Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. series and was created to revive an old bourbon-making technique associated with Taylor more than a century earlier.

The story behind the whiskey began in 1996, when a gathering of retired Buffalo Trace distillery workers recalled an older method of producing sour mash whiskey. Rather than relying solely on the conventional sour-mash process used throughout modern bourbon production, the cooked mash was allowed to sit and naturally sour for several days before yeast was introduced and fermentation began. Buffalo Trace recreated the labor-intensive technique for this release, producing a bourbon intended to approximate the style made during Colonel Taylor's era.

Distilled in 2002 and aged for nine years, Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Old Fashioned Sour Mash was bottled in bond at 100 proof (50% ABV). Its extended maturation and unusual fermentation process give the whiskey a distinctive profile that separates it from both the standard E.H. Taylor range and more conventional Buffalo Trace bourbons.

The aroma opens with floral notes and freshly baked bread, followed by a palate that is notably fresh and approachable for a 100-proof bourbon. Honeyed sweetness and toasted grain develop through the mid-palate, joined by vanilla, warm spice and mature oak. Buffalo Trace describes the finish as clean with a touch of leather, giving the whiskey a savory counterpoint to its sweeter opening notes.

As the inaugural release in the Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. collection, Old Fashioned Sour Mash occupies an important place in modern Buffalo Trace history. Unlike Small Batch, Single Barrel and several other E.H. Taylor expressions that became continuing releases, Old Fashioned Sour Mash was produced as a one-time limited edition and has long since disappeared from normal distribution.

For collectors of rare Buffalo Trace bourbon, early E.H. Taylor releases and historically inspired American whiskey, Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Old Fashioned Sour Mash represents considerably more than another scarce bottle. Its nine-year age, bottled-in-bond presentation, unusual production method and status as the release that launched the E.H. Taylor collection make it one of the defining collectible expressions in the series.

Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Release: 2011
Type: Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
Proof: 100
ABV: 50%
Age: 9 Years
Distilled: 2002
Designation: Bottled in Bond
Production: One-Time Limited Release
Style: Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon
Size: 750ml