Buffalo Trace Distillery Revives 19th Century Original Recipe with Colonel E.H. Taylor’s Distiller’s Council
Buffalo Trace Distillery recently released a limited-edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon — Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Distiller’s Council. This ultra-premium bourbon recreates the original 19th-century recipe and craftsmanship of O.F.C. Distillery (now Buffalo Trace). The inspiration came from a 1996 meeting of a Distiller’s Council, which included legends like Elmer T. Lee and Harlen Wheatley, who sampled over 30 whiskeys before deciding to revive traditional distilling methods.
This 100-proof bourbon employs Colonel E.H. Taylor’s innovative techniques, including his unique sour mashing process (now patented by Buffalo Trace), combined with modern distilling expertise to faithfully replicate the 1880s grain recipe and fermentation process. Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley noted that Colonel Taylor’s commitment to quality and innovation, established in 1870, continues to influence the distillery’s decisions today.
Colonel E.H. Taylor, hailed as the father of the modern bourbon industry, acquired O.F.C. Distillery in 1869 and pioneered innovations like steam-heated warehouses (still used at Buffalo Trace) and the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act, setting bourbon quality standards. Global Brand Director Andrew Duncan emphasized that Taylor’s innovative spirit still guides the distillery.
This release marks the 14th installment in the Colonel E.H. Taylor series and will join the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in fall 2025 as its first Bottled-in-Bond bourbon. The packaging revives the Greek-style glass bottle from 1950s Old Taylor advertisements, paying homage to history. As a U.S. National Historic Landmark, Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its century-old tradition with award-winning whiskeys.
2025-07-10
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