Similar Bourbons to E.H. Taylor

Last Updated on: 3rd May 2024, 09:04 pm

J Highland

J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.

Looking for a similar smooth experience for everyday sipping?

• Buffalo Trace: Caramel, vanilla, baking spice - A well-balanced and enjoyable bourbon for everyday drinking.

Prefer something with more aged character and complexity?

• Eagle Rare: Toasted oak, dried fruit, vanilla - A 10-year aged bourbon with a mellow and enjoyable profile.

Crave a bold and flavorful high-proof experience?

• Stagg Jr.: Cherry, cinnamon, baking spice - Incredibly flavorful and well-balanced despite its high proof, but for experienced drinkers.

Enjoy E.H. Taylor's profile but want a bit more spice?

• John Bowman Single Barrel: Oak spice, apple, baking spice - Similar to E.H. Taylor with a touch more spice, well-balanced and enjoyable.

Intrigued by a unique fruity and spicy surprise?

• 1792 Bottled in Bond: Charred oak, banana, rye spice - A smooth and enjoyable bourbon with a unique character within the Buffalo Trace family.

Want a similar profile for a more wallet-friendly option?

• Benchmark Bonded: Vanilla, caramel, oak - Made at Buffalo Trace with similar flavors to E.H. Taylor at a lower price point. (Might need time to open up).

Appreciate a bolder and spicier profile with extra age?

• Henry McKenna 10: Caramel, vanilla, oak - A unique single barrel bourbon with a bold and spicy profile for those who enjoy extra-aged character. (Enjoy neat with water on the side for a smoother experience).

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Similar Bourbons and Alternatives to EH Taylor: Buying Guide

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Buffalo Trace: Everyday Sipping Delight

• Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, baking spice, cereal
• Palate: Caramel, vanilla, oak, espresso coffee, chocolate
• Finish: Vanilla, baking spice, oak
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Neat

Buffalo Trace offers a delicate aroma of caramel, vanilla, and baking spice. The palate showcases pronounced spice, oak, and fruit, with lingering sweetness of caramel and vanilla. Gentle on the mouth with minimal heat, it finishes moderately with prominent vanilla and baking spice. Well-balanced and enjoyable neat, this "everyday whiskey" might not be the strongest for cocktails, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Eagle Rare: Aged Elegance

• Nose: Toasted oak, orange peel, maple syrup
• Palate: Oak, dried fruit, vanilla, caramel, baking spice
• Finish: Oak, tobacco, leather
• Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Eagle Rare, a 10-year-aged gem from Buffalo Trace, opens with toasted oak, orange peel, red fruit, and maple syrup. The creamy palate unfolds vanilla, dried fruit, caramel, and baking spice, culminating in a long finish of oak, leather, and tobacco. Water brings out the caramel, softening the oaky character.

While potentially bold for beginners, Eagle Rare offers a mellow and enjoyable experience, a true contender for best 10-year bourbon.

Stagg Jr.: Bold & Rewarding

• Nose: Vanilla, cherry pie
• Palate: Cherry, cinnamon, baking spice, caramel, pecan
• Finish: Oak, cinnamon, brown sugar
• Alcohol content: 130 proof (65% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Stagg Jr. packs a punch! Strong vanilla and cherry pie aromas greet the nose. The thick, chewy palate explodes with warmth, cherry, cinnamon, baking spice, and pecan. The finish is warming, rich with oak, lingering spice, and brown sugar. Incredibly flavorful, bold, and well-balanced despite its high proof, this is a bourbon for adventurous drinkers who enjoy strong character.

John Bowman Single Barrel: Spicy Delight

• Nose: Oak, vanilla, cinnamon
• Palate: Oak spice, apple, brown sugar, baking spice
• Finish: Apple, oak
• Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

John Bowman Single Barrel offers a nose of oak with whispers of vanilla and cinnamon. The creamy palate showcases upfront oak spice, balanced by brown sugar, apple, baking spice, and vanilla. The medium-length finish is dry with lingering oak and a touch of leather, offering a pleasant tingle. Adding water reveals caramel and softens the oak. This well-balanced bourbon, similar to E.H. Taylor with a touch more spice, is enjoyable neat and worth exploring for bourbon enthusiasts.

1792 Bottled in Bond: Sweet & Spicy Surprise

• Nose: Charred oak, banana, rye spice
• Palate: Cinnamon, oak, banana, ripe fruit
• Finish: Medium-length, cinnamon, pepper, oak
• Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
• How to drink: Rocks, cocktails

1792 Bottled in Bond surprises with a fruity nose followed by cinnamon raisin bread and a hint of bubblegum. The creamy palate offers upfront bubblegum sweetness alongside rye spice, vanilla, and faint oak. Hints of green apple and cherry with a touch of spice add complexity. The finish is deep, well-rounded, and satisfying.

Despite its higher proof, this bourbon is smooth and enjoyable neat, showcasing a unique character within the Buffalo Trace family.

Henry McKenna 10: Bold & Spicy

• Nose: Ethanol, vanilla, caramel, citrus, clove, nutmeg
• Palate: Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, oak, baking spice
• Finish: Caramel, vanilla, oak
• Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Henry McKenna 10, a unique aged single barrel bourbon, offers a boozy nose with vanilla, caramel, clove, and nutmeg. The palate starts hot but mellows into sweet vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar with a surprising lack of oak for its age. A lingering finish features rye spice, vanilla, caramel, and a touch of oak, all balanced with a touch of ethanol warmth. Enjoy neat with water on the side to tame the heat for a more relaxed experience.

Benchmark Bonded: Budget-Friendly Buffalo Trace

• Nose: Ethanol, orange, cinnamon, toasted nuts
• Palate: Vanilla, caramel, oak, brown sugar, baking spice
• Finish: Oak spice, baking spice, orange
• Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

Benchmark Bonded mirrors E.H. Taylor (made at Buffalo Trace from the same mash), but at a lower price point. The nose starts with ethanol, then offers orange, cinnamon, and toasted nuts. The palate is hot initially, with vanilla, caramel, oak, and baking spice. The long finish has lingering heat, but water brings out caramel and oak. This bold bourbon boasts a great price for E.H. Taylor flavors, but might need time to open up.

E.H. Taylor Small Batch: A Delightful Journey

• Nose: Cherry, tobacco, chocolate, cinnamon, caramel
• Palate: Vanilla, caramel, spice, oak
• Finish: Charred oak, black pepper, vanilla, cherry
• Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water

E.H. Taylor's nose entices with cherry, chocolate, tobacco, and a subtle hint of ethanol. The lusciously oily palate offers warmth and bitterness that melt into sweet vanilla, fruit, spice, and oak. The star is the finish: a burst of charred oak and black pepper transitioning to lingering vanilla and cherry with a satisfying warmth. This bottled-in-bond gem is undeniably superb!