Buffalo Trace Adds E.H. Taylor To Its Coveted Antique Collection

Forbes

04-05-2025

E.H. Taylor Bottled-and-Bond
This fall, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) is getting its first new addition in nearly two decades—and it's a big one. Buffalo Trace Distillery has officially confirmed that E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon will be joining its prestigious annual lineup, making its debut as part of the 2025 BTAC Collection.
The move marks the first addition to BTAC since Thomas H. Handy was introduced back in 2006. And for longtime fans of Buffalo Trace's heritage-rich portfolio, this update feels more like destiny than surprise. The Bottled-in-Bond expression pays tribute to Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., widely considered the 'Father of Modern Bourbon,' and the driving force behind one of the most significant milestones in whiskey history: the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.
'As a founding figure who helped define bourbon quality — not just for Buffalo Trace, but for the entire industry — it's only fitting that Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr.'s namesake brand takes its place among the collection,' Andrew Duncan, Global Brand Director, Buffalo Trace Distillery said in an emailed statement. 'With this release, we proudly pay tribute to Colonel Taylor's enduring legacy of innovation and craftsmanship.'
Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
The Antique Collection is known for its limited annual releases that highlight long-aged, high-proof, and meticulously selected barrels from Buffalo Trace's extensive warehouses. It typically includes five expressions:
These whiskeys are lauded not only for their complexity and rarity, but also for representing the pinnacle of Buffalo Trace's aging and blending programs.
The inclusion of E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond—a 100-proof, single-season, federally bonded bourbon—signals a new chapter. While the standard Bottled-in-Bond expression remains a consumer favorite in the $40–60 range, this BTAC release is expected to reflect extended aging, increased rarity, and deeper barrel selection—placing it in direct conversation with the likes of Stagg and Weller in terms of prestige.
E.H. Taylor
Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. purchased the O.F.C. Distillery (now Buffalo Trace) in 1869, and his impact on American whiskey cannot be overstated. He was a relentless innovator, responsible for modernizing the distillery with copper fermentation tanks, grain handling systems, and steam-heated warehouses—some of which are still in use today.
More importantly, Taylor was a key figure behind the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the first piece of federal legislation to establish standards for whiskey production and labeling. It defined what constituted a 'straight' whiskey, mandated a minimum of four years of aging, and required the spirit to be the product of one distillation season, one distiller, and one distillery—all bottled at 100 proof under federal supervision.
This act essentially introduced the idea of government-regulated whiskey purity—a vital protection for consumers during an era rife with counterfeit and adulterated spirits.
In homage to that legacy, the new BTAC release will bear Taylor's signature, just as his original bottles once did.
E.H. Taylor Bottled-and-Bond label
For collectors, the introduction of a new BTAC label is a rare event—only the second in over 20 years. With existing BTAC expressions already fetching high secondary market prices and being the subject of annual lotteries, this addition will only increase demand. The move also strengthens the long-term positioning of the E.H. Taylor brand as a cornerstone of Buffalo Trace's prestige portfolio.
While Buffalo Trace has yet to release details on age statement, mashbill, or barrel selection, expectations are high. The standard Bottled-in-Bond release already draws from Mashbill #1 (a low-rye bourbon mash), and if this BTAC edition follows suit—with additional aging and BTAC-level curation—it could become one of the more balanced and historically resonant entries in the collection.
Look for the 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection—including the debut of E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond BTAC Edition—to begin arriving in extremely limited allocations this fall.