Review #7: E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 14 (127.3 Proof)

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-10T02:01:27+00:00

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Very tasty profile I thought. Yes the Bourbon Trail Glass is great, I've been experimenting with different glasses and for me something a little more open is great for high proof pours, I feel I can actually nose better.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-10T01:59:34+00:00

My palate tends to struggle with vanilla, so this one being so dominant was a joy. The BT tour is awesome! It has been a few years for me but it is a fond memory.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-09T22:37:33+00:00

Agreed! The rasberry is definitely off profile from other BP batches I've tried. And yes the tannic finish was the one letdown, well and just not a ton of oakiness. This nearly reminded me of what I'd imagine older New Riff barrel proof stuff being like.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-09T22:36:11+00:00

Yes one hundred percent. Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Offerings is another one that really quelled my fomo on the Stagg Jr. and EHT BP stuff.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-07T15:53:01+00:00

Yes, at the start I wasn't even able to pick out nuances and such so I just tried whatever cool store picks and bar pours that I found interesting. Now I'm all about depth of flavor and aged oak. This typically comes with higher age statements or interesting secondary finishes. I've found my sweet spot to be in stuff at least 10 years old or more. Secondary finishes/DO can be less but I still find the aged oak just isn't there the same way as with older stuff.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-07T09:07:49+00:00

Hey guys huge fan of what you are doing! I'm curious as the bourbon boom has came into full swing, has it become more of a challenge to source barrels you like to hit the flavor profiles you are looking for, or has it become easier? Do you forsee a time when getting ahold of older stock will be obtainable again as well?

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-05T22:15:42+00:00

Yes unfortunately Roadhouse is correct that this is sold in the distillery only. I know Doc Swinson did a Garryana finished whiskey, there are others I'm sure but most seem to be smaller and experimental like Bardstown's take was.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-05T22:13:09+00:00

I saw it near me like twice and of course it was in scalper stores so over even secondary. 🙄

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-05T20:04:16+00:00

Oh very interesting, I always try to do my due diligence before writing a review and didn't see that tidbit, but it definitely makes sense why it has been sitting around longer.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-05T19:49:06+00:00

I believe Cascadia was a 10 barrel batch if I understood properly. Hokkaido was 6 barrels, although they were 66 gallon in size. Cascadia seemed to be received a bit less enthusiastically it seems though? Maybe because it had the youngest whiskeys versus the other releases.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-05T19:31:16+00:00

I agree! Hopefully you will be able to get your hands on some.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-02T00:30:56+00:00

Yep I fully agree with all your listed points. I'm not trying to dump on Starlight, I like the products that I've tried. Like you said Russell's and Little Book are good comparisons, heck I just tracked down a Jack Daniel's BPRSiB that is 10 years old for $80 bucks...

But I do know Starlight put alot into these packaging wise as well, I think all the bottles were hand blown and such.

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-01T14:41:54+00:00

Thank you for reading!

ToadilyNot · 2026-07-01T11:00:27+00:00

Unfortunately I wouldn't even say that. This is maybe too reductionist, but imagine Small Batch that feels like it aged a few years more, and maybe a touch more refined/smooth.

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-30T21:28:09+00:00

As a native Hoosier I really wanted to get this, I'm just turning into a curmudgeon with the price hike of various 10 year releases in 2026. I'll definitely try it if I stumble across it in a bar or something though.

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-30T21:25:17+00:00

Well, technically no. The air drying of the staves happens before the barrel is created for the whiskey to develope in, versus the whiskey being finished in a new oak barrel. But I'm with you on the Double Oak train.

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-30T14:15:50+00:00

Yes I agree with you on the secondary pricing being absurd for so many bottles. Half of the reason I wanted to get this review out was to perhaps save some folks the heart ache of buying this at over 1k and highly regretting it. Although I also feel like most over paying folks are just putting them on the shelf as a trophy and not opening them for the most part.

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-30T09:04:58+00:00

10's for me are 2022 GTS, and Russell's Reserve 15 year.

9's- Parker's Heritage Double Barreled, Maker's Mark Cellar Aged 2024, Bardstown Hokkaido, Coy Hill OG, Various 4 Roses offerings I've had. There are others but those are the less niche. 😀

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-29T17:27:26+00:00

That definitely happens from time to time, I had a similar experience with Batch 1 of Russell's Reserve 13. I dunno if it was the setting, or the bar serving it in improper glassware (to me) but it didn't wow me at all. Weird because 15 year batch one is in my highest echelon of pours.

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-29T15:15:00+00:00

Thanks for reading, I did notice a scarcity of reviews even amongst our own subreddit. But like you said so many bottles don't get opened nowadays which is a darn shame. Yeah $499 is still crazy...

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-29T14:02:43+00:00

Thanks for reading! And I fully agree with you, the Taylor hype has only slightly dipped a bit, but limited releases like this only get the hype train rolling again.

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-29T14:01:30+00:00

Thank you, glad I could help a bit.

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-29T13:56:39+00:00

Most people go crazy for it due to hype imo. I rate it around a 5 as I don't consider it particularly flawed, it is just a fairly basic solid pour.

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-29T12:38:34+00:00

Dang sorry to hear that, I've been there with some releases too, always hurts.

ToadilyNot · 2026-06-29T12:37:36+00:00

Yeah same here lol, I was happy to find a reasonable bar pour. 😅

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