2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 9

Thursday! Day 9 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, today, we have Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond, 50% ABV, 100 Proof, aged at least 4 years (rumored to be around 7 years). I bought this one about a year ago and it's getting really hard to find anymore - is it any good?

On the nose, I get caramel, corn, spice and a hint of dill. On the taste I get butterscotch, cinnamon, spice, wood and apple. The finish I get vanilla, some wood, spice, and it lingers for some time. With water the nose is more wood and spicy, while the taste is sweeter overall. 

This in nothing fancy, but it's really well balanced and the sum is better than the parts. It's from Buffalo Trace, but comparing either Buffalo Trace or Eagle Rare to this is just not fair - this is significantly better overall. If you can find this at retail, it's an instant purchase - but good luck. I have not seen this in a store since I picked it up. Rated 3.5 / 5.0 - better than all budget bourbons, not quite in the barrel proof bourbon category.