I got super lucky and managed to score this year’s EHT Barrel Proof on a little lunchtime hunt. I’d had two of the previous releases and liked them well enough but I’d heard good things about this batch so I decided to crack it straight away. It was a little high octane for a lunch pour but half a bottle later I’m a huge fan. In another crazy turn of events EHT Single Barrel hit Austin last week and wasn’t on allocation at some of the bigger shops so I couldn’t resist picking one up. I’ve previously written a side by side of an EHT Single Barrel and Small Batch so I decided to keep the tradition alive and do these side by side!
Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof 2019
Age: NAS
Abv: 129.3 proof
Price: $89.99
NCF: Yes
Neat
Nose: A powerful but inviting nose with sweet caramel, vanilla, rich oak and subtler baking spice and cherry notes.
Taste: Very strong flavor with cherry, caramel, vanilla, baking spice and softer oak notes. One of the best mouthfeels I’ve had on a bourbon, thick and sticky in all the right ways.
Finish: Very long and dry with a sweet cherry start then lingering spice with just enough oak and caramel to balance it.
4 Stars - Extraordinary whiskey: An all time favorite
Colonel EH Taylor Single Barrel 2019
Age: NAS
Abv: 100 proof
Price: $69.99
Laser Code: L192180123-30L
Neat
Nose: Solid but basic nose with sweet vanilla and caramel notes.
Taste: Oak notes dominate with some sweet caramel and vanilla. A little thin for 100 proof but still decently viscous.
Finish: Long oaky finish with sweet vanilla notes balancing the oak.
2 Stars - Very good whiskey: I would want to have a bottle
Conclusion
Wow, this year’s Barrel Proof was outstanding. I’ve had the ‘17 and ‘18 at bars and liked them but didn’t love them like I do this bottle. This was very nearly a 10/10 but the finish was a little to dry and hot to be perfect for me. I’m very glad I was able to get a bottle this year at a good price and will definitely be trying to track down another one next year!
This Single Barrel was the most oaky and least spicy EHT I’ve had yet which I really enjoyed. I definitely prefer it to my last EHT SiB bottle. It’s still a gamble buying the SiBs vs the SmB for EHT though and not one I would recommend for most folks. I’ll probably still bite from time to time if I can get one without any hassle.
TL;DR: This years EHT BP is outstanding. The Single Barrel still ranges from good to great.
Scale
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