As bourbon demand cools in some corners, Buffalo Trace is doubling down on its roots.

Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection hasn’t had a new addition since 2006. That changes in fall 2025 with the arrival of E.H. Taylor Bottled in Bond, a release that feels both overdue and perfectly timed.

For many bourbon drinkers, myself included, E.H. Taylor was the first bottle that felt premium. The tall canister. The Bottled in Bond seal stretched proudly across the cork. Even before the first pour, it seemed to carry weight. Not just in proof, but in presence. It was one of the first bottles that made me realise how much heritage and care could be wrapped into a modern bourbon.

A Long-Overdue Reunion

The name Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. joins the BTAC, Buffalo Trace’s elite collection that includes George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller, Thomas H. Handy, Eagle Rare 17, and Sazerac 18. And it belongs there. Taylor wasn’t just another historic figure; he helped shape the rules that govern bourbon to this day. He was instrumental in passing the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, the first consumer protection law in the U.S., designed to guarantee quality and authenticity at a time when whiskey was often dangerously adulterated.

Buffalo Trace says the BTAC was created to honour its legacy brands and visionary figures. In that context, Taylor’s inclusion feels less like a bold new step and more like a course correction. As Andrew Duncan, Buffalo Trace’s global brand director, put it: “It’s only fitting that Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr.’s namesake brand takes its place among the collection.”

With this release, BTAC isn’t just expanding. It’s reaffirming the roots of American whiskey.

E.H. Taylor Jr. Gest The BTAC Treatment

E.H. Taylor has always stood out, not just for the whiskey, but for the whole experience. The canister reads like a bourbon encyclopedia, packed with history, process, and pride.

At 100 proof, the Taylor range has long been praised for its flavour balance of rich, structured, and never overdone. That equilibrium is part of what makes these whiskies so respected. The Small Batch is a staple for many, while the Barrel Proof and Single Barrel editions have built strong followings and earned critical acclaim. I just wish I could find one of those on the shelf in the UK. 

Now the BTAC version raises the stakes. It still uses Buffalo Trace’s low-rye Mash Bill #1, but comes from extra-aged stock. Expect the familiar caramel and spice to run deeper, layered with pineapple, coconut, and some sweet, sticky toffee notes. 

Unlike the higher proof heavyweights in the Antique Collection, this release adds refinement, not firepower, and in doing so, cements Taylor’s place alongside bourbon royalty.

A Strategic Move Amid Shifting Demand

There was a time, not that long ago, when bottles like W.L. Weller and George T. Stagg actually sat on shelves at retail. Finding them at RRP felt like striking gold, but it wasn’t impossible. A decade later, those memories have become part of what makes the BTAC lineup so meaningful: it’s not just about rarity, it’s about connection.

Adding E.H. Taylor Bottled in Bond to the Antique Collection taps directly into that nostalgia. In a bourbon market that’s showing early signs of softening, especially outside the ultra-premium tier, Buffalo Trace is doubling down on heritage. Instead of chasing trends, it’s investing in legacy.

With demand shifting and collectors becoming more selective, this release helps refocus attention on bourbon’s foundations: flavour, history, and craft. It’s a reminder of what made BTAC matter in the first place, and why it still does.

What to Expect in 2025

The E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond BTAC release is set to debut in fall 2025, joining the annual Antique Collection drop around October. Buffalo Trace hasn’t revealed an exact age statement or bottle count yet, typical for the series, but has confirmed it will be a limited release like its siblings.

MSRP will likely sit around $150, but anyone familiar with BTAC knows the reality: these bottles are incredibly tough to find at retail and routinely fetch far more on the secondary market. Collectors are already circling, and the fact that it’s the first new BTAC release in 19 years makes it even more desirable.

But here’s the thing, if you do get one, open it. Whether you snag a bottle through a lottery or pure luck, don’t let it sit untouched. This is one of those “I was there” bottles, an inaugural release that will carry its own story for years to come.

I’ve opened every BTAC bottle I’ve ever managed to find, and I’ve never regretted a single one. This one, more than most, deserves to be poured, shared, and remembered.

Read the full article at Bourbon’s Founding Father Takes His Place Among Buffalo Trace’s Elite