Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof?

[gatsby]

My local store has had a bottle of C.E.H Taylor Barrel Proof sitting on the shelf for $75 for about a month now. I've contemplated buying it but seeing as I've never had it before I wanted to get a couple opinions first. I've had the regular Small Batch offering and liked it but did not think it was worth the price when compared to regular Buffalo Trace and wouldn't likely buy another one.

I'm wondering how does the C.E.H. Taylor Barrel proof stack up to Stagg JR or other barrel proof offerings like Rare Breed? I believe both Stagg Jr and C.E.H. Taylor are the BT Mashbill #1. I know there have been mixed opinions about the Stagg but I enjoy it every once in a while. My regular higher proof pours are OGD 114 & Rare Breed. Is the C.E.H. possibly worth the price difference?

I know SKU did a nice comparison of all the C.E.H. Taylor offerings on his blog a while back and if I remember correctly he liked the barrel proof the best.

So what say you guys? Should I pick it up? Thanks!

[Gentleman Racer]

I love the Taylor barrel proof. I agree with you that small batch was good, but not worth the price. Unfortunately I haven't had stagg jr, OGD114 or rare breed for comparison. But my regular barrel proofs are EC12 barrel proof, Bookers, KC single barrel. If we agree on any of those, maybe my Col EH Taylor opinion can be of some value to you.

[dSculptor]

I say go for it, I've had both and can not find the BF any where around here,but I do believe it was around the $70 mark. I do have on hand and like the SB very much,but do remember the Bf was better, bottom line you'll never know if you don't take the chance.

[TunnelTiger]

Yeah a few months back the CETH all ran from $49 - $59, but looks like now all I see is $69 - $79 (the rye is highest here)

[petrel800]

69.99-79.99 is about the retail norm, I've seen higher, but for the BP, that's about right.

As for should you buy it, can't give you much help there. I bought a bottle of the first batch of it and wasn't impressed. It was certainly out shined by the new BP offerings, Stagg Jr, ECBP and even the Russel Reserve Single Barrel Small Batch Barrel Proof whatever the rest of the name is bottles in my opinion. I've read better things about this second go round, but nothing that's made me want to part with $30 more than the 3 I listed before and the fact there are several 4RSB BPs around my town, I don't see myself shelling to find out if the 2nd is better than the first.

[GaryT]

I'm with Mark - I was underwhelmed by the CEHT BP for the money. I haven't done a blind sbs, but I think I would also prefer Stagg Jr over it (and most definitely ECBP). As those are quite a bit cheaper, I wouldn't pick it up. But - everyone's taste is different!

[hn4bourbon]

I haven't tried the small batch but have had the single barrel and recently the barrel proof. I liked the single barrel a lot and I really enjoyed the first few pours of the barrel proof.

[gatsby]

Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate all the feedback though I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. I'll probably end up keeping an eye on it and then regret not buying it once it disappears from the shelf!

[Richnimrod]

Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate all the feedback though I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. I'll probably end up keeping an eye on it and then regret not buying it once it disappears from the shelf!

When unsure about an expensive; but un-tried offering, that's what I usually do! :slappin:

[squire]

Yes, let someone else make the decision for us. Oddly I've sometimes wished they would and sometimes wished they wouldn't.

[GaryT]

I have had some poor luck picking winners. Ironically, if a bottle is over $50 and I've NEVER tried it, about half the time I've had some buyer's remorse. But I've also had that "@!#$% I shoulda bought that!" remorse too

[mbroo5880i]

I have had some poor luck picking winners. Ironically, if a bottle is over $50 and I've NEVER tried it, about half the time I've had some buyer's remorse. But I've also had that "@!#$% I shoulda bought that!" remorse too

I can't say I don't sometimes feel buyer's remorse on more expensive bottles. I don't buy many over $50. But, I have opened a few and thought, man, I shouldn't have spent the money. Fortunately, in all cases, my first impression was incorrect. I have enjoyed every bottle I have bought over $50. Often, they end up being favorites. Who knows, maybe some of that is influenced by the price. On the other end of the spectrum, I have bought some for less than $30 and loved them on the first try and it brought a big happy smile to my face.

I really like CEHT SmB so I imagine I would probably like CEHT BP. However, as Old Dusty has pointed out, this stuff is priced like BTAC in Indy. I would like to try it before I buy it.

[Ravensfire]

Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate all the feedback though I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. I'll probably end up keeping an eye on it and then regret not buying it once it disappears from the shelf!

Sometime when you're out at a bar that has a bottle of it, order a pour there. Lots cheaper than the full bottle and then you'll know if you like it or not!

[hn4bourbon]

If it's a bottle I can find on the shelves and it's not outrageously overpriced, I always prefer to buy a bottle to try in the comfort of my own home:)

Whenever I think I might regret not picking something up, I buy it because that would get that thought out of my mind. The toll that thinking about it does to your mind is not worth the few dollars. It's supposed to be fun:)

[BourbonJoe]

I think it's the best of the bunch.

Joe :usflag:

[LCWoody]

I did a blend last night of EHT SmB and EHT BP and it came out really good. Took away some of the burn of the barrel proof but left all the flavor.

[Trey Manthey]

I took a bottle of this to the Mardi Gras parades last night and was passing it around in flask format with the "sip carefully" warning. Just the thing to take the bite out of a cold night. It's good, but not so good that I don't mind sharing it liberally.

[VAGentleman]

I like this OK enough but at only 7 years old $89 (which I what I've seen I for in my area) is a lot to pay

[Redtide291020]

Jefferson's Reserve for $32 here in Missouri