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Buffalo Trace Brings Back Two Iconic Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Bourbons: Four Grain and Cured Oak

Buffalo Trace Distillery tells BourbonBlog.com they are reintroducing two sought-after expressions from the Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. collection: Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey and Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Cured Oak Bourbon Whiskey.

Both bourbons are bottled at 100 proof and will be available in 750ml bottles. The suggested retail price is $79.99 per bottle.

The return marks a notable moment for fans of the Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. lineup. Four Grain is now being positioned as an annual limited release, giving it a more regular place within Buffalo Trace’s ongoing release calendar. Cured Oak, meanwhile, returns as a rare limited offering, making this release especially notable for collectors and longtime fans of the brand.

Both releases are expected in 2026 in limited quantities, with Four Grain available through Buffalo Trace Distillery, Sazerac House, and select Kentucky and Louisiana retailers, while Cured Oak will be available through select stores, bars, and restaurants across the U.S.

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Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon

First introduced in 2017, Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey is a 100-proof small-batch bourbon made with a recipe of corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley.

Buffalo Trace says the grain recipe reflects ingredients that would have been accessible to Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. in the 1800s. Distilled in 2015 and aged for 10 years, Four Grain stands apart within the E.H. Taylor lineup because it combines both rye and wheat in the mashbill.

The result is a layered bourbon where each grain plays a role: corn brings sweetness, rye adds spice and structure, wheat softens the palate, and malted barley contributes depth and toasted character.

Buffalo Trace tells us the flavor profile is rich and balanced, with notes of caramel, vanilla, and chocolate, followed by a lightly spiced, lingering finish.

Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley tells BourbonBlog.com that the Four Grain as an unconventional bourbon and a “graduated experiment,” one that began as a deliberate exploration and evolved into a release worthy of returning as a permanent expression.

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Cured Oak Bourbon

Originally released in 2015, Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Cured Oak Bourbon Whiskey also returns at 100 proof and carries the Bottled-in-Bond distinction.

This bourbon was aged for 10 years in barrels made from white oak staves that were air-dried for 13 months, more than twice the standard curing time. That extended stave seasoning is the defining feature of the release, allowing the bourbon to pull deeper and more complex flavors from the oak during maturation.

Buffalo Trace describes Cured Oak as rich and layered, with notes of tobacco, dried fruit, vanilla, and toffee, along with undertones of seasoned oak and a long, dry finish.

Wheatley noted that the extended curing process brings additional depth and complexity, creating a longer and more layered finish than would typically come from standard barrel seasoning.

Together, Four Grain and Cured Oak showcase two different sides of the Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. legacy: one focused on grain innovation, the other on barrel craftsmanship. Both releases tie back to Taylor’s lasting role in shaping modern bourbon, from his work at the historic O.F.C. Distillery to his influence on the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.

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