Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky wasn’t always called Buffalo Trace Distillery. When your distillery dates back to 1800s, it’s not unusual that it has gone by many names over the years. In 1858, the first commercial distillery on this site was the Swigert Distillery. In 1869-70 Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr., established the O.F.C. Distillery. In 1904, then owner George T. Stagg renamed the distillery George T. Stagg Distillery. In 1942 under Schenley ownership the distillery was renamed Ancient Age Distilling Company. In 1992, Sazerac purchased the distillery and in 1999 rechristened it the Buffalo Trace Distillery paying homage to the buffalo that once crossed the Kentucky River near the distillery.
People often opine that today’s bourbon doesn’t taste like the bourbon of old. Well, Buffalo Trace Distillery wants to change that with their newest release ‘Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council’: a limited-edition, ultra-premium Kentucky Straight Bourbon born from the very spirit of the pioneer who helped define American whiskey. Crafted using equipment and based on techniques originally invented by Taylor himself, this 100-proof bottling stands as the closest modern interpretation of the fine bourbons produced under his leadership at O.F.C Distillery during the 19th century.
The Distiller’s Council – We Don’t Make Whiskey the Way We Used to…
This latest release was conceived by a team of long-time distillery veterans at a historic Distiller’s Council meeting in 1996 at Buffalo Trace Distillery, this rare release is the most faithful recreation to date of the 19th-century bourbons once crafted at the O.F.C. Distillery.
The inspiration for this modern recreation traces back to 1996, when a group of bourbon visionaries and retired George T. Stagg Distillery craftsmen including Elmer T. Lee, Orville Schupp, Jimmy Johnson, Gary Gayheart, Al Geiser, Harlen Wheatley, Mark Brown, Ronnie Eddins and Leonard Riddle, among others convened at Buffalo Trace Distillery in their pursuit of creating the world’s best whiskey. As they sampled more than 30 whiskeys across a range of ages, mash bills and proofs, one voice cut through the room with a thought: “Well, we don’t make whiskey the way we used to.” This led to the Distiller’s Council unpacking the way that whiskey was made when they first started their careers. That meeting, until now known by bourbon insiders as the “Distiller’s Council”, resulted in a re-discovery of E.H. Taylor’s pioneering techniques that had been lost to history.
In Buffalo Trace’s spirit of ‘Honor Tradition, Embrace Change’, this led to the revival of Taylor’s sour mashing process – patent pending by Buffalo Trace – and, combined with the modern wisdom of Buffalo Trace’s expert distillation team, the creation of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council. Crafted using his trailblazing techniques, the production process remains nearly identical to that of the 1880s using both grains in his mashbill and his fermentation process. This expression celebrates a seminal moment in bourbon history and commemorates that meeting with a one-of-a-kind expression that tastes unlike anything else currently available on the market.
“Colonel Taylor’s unwavering commitment to quality and innovation has helped shape every decision at our Distillery since he set our standards in 1870,” said Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller, Buffalo Trace Distillery. “His enduring legacy left a profound impact on everyone present on that fateful day in 1996. As many of them are no longer with us, we hope they are enjoying this angel’s share with the Colonel himself – watching proudly as we carry his vision forward.”
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Widely recognized as the “Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry,” Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. purchased the O.F.C. Distillery in 1869 and ushered in a new era of innovation. From state-of-the-art grain equipment to copper fermentation tanks and the first steam-heated barrel warehouses – still in use at Buffalo Trace today – Taylor’s vision revolutionized bourbon production. His advocacy also led to the landmark Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, cementing his legacy as a champion of quality and integrity. His visionary spirit continues to guide Buffalo Trace more than a century later.
Related Story – What is the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897?
“Colonel E.H. Taylor didn’t just shape a distillery – he helped shape the entire bourbon industry. That’s why he’s known as the Father of Modern Bourbon,” said Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “From championing the Bottled-in-Bond Act to modernizing production standards, many of his innovations have stood the test of time and are in use to this day. Always of Topmost Class, he set the bar for integrity, innovation and craftsmanship. In that spirit, we are proud to revive this faithful interpretation of his original recipe, crafted with the same standards of quality and spirit of innovation he so fiercely advocated.”
Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottled at 100-proof in a vintage-style, Grecian glass decanter modeled after one featured in an 1950s-era Old Taylor “Original Recipe” Bourbon advertisement – as seen in popular magazines such as TIME and Playboy – this special bottling will be available in limited-quantities nationwide at retail stores, restaurants and bars starting July 2025 at a suggested retail price of $1,499.99 for a 750ml bottle.
Tasting Notes as Noted from Inside the Box
Nose: grain-forward with biscuit and pastry notes.
Palate: Toasted sugar, dark caramel, crème brûlée, plum dessert, and nougat.
Corn Used: White Corn
Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council to Join the BTAC Collection in the Fall of 2025
Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council is the 14th release to join the acclaimed bourbon portfolio alongside expressions including Small Batch, Single Barrel, Rye, Barrel Proof Rye, Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon, Four Grain and more. In Fall 2025, E.H. Taylor will join the annual, highly-anticipated Buffalo Trace Antique Collection as the Collection’s first Bottled-in-Bond bourbon.
Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site.
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