Buffalo Trace Distillery recently saluted Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. and his efforts in getting the Bottled in Bond Act passed by releasing a “Bottled in Bond Day” commemorative edition E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel. The barrel was hand-picked by the team at Buffalo Trace and bottles are only available through Country singer Chris Stapleton’s charitable fund, Outlaw State of Kind. Each bottle will be autographed by Stapleton.
Initial bottles will be used to support disaster relief in Texas and Eastern Kentucky. These initial bottles are available for bidding on the online charity auction Charitybuzz. The remaining bottles will be used throughout the year to raise funds for a variety of charities across the country.
“We’ve very excited to partner with Chris Stapleton and Outlaw State of Kind,” said Joshua Steely, E.H. Taylor, Jr. brand director. “We knew Chris was a big fan of E. H. Taylor, Jr., so we thought this was a perfect way to commemorate Bottled in Bond Day, by partnering with his charitable fund so fans of both his music and our bourbon can help out needy causes across the country through the various events and auctions that will be held throughout the year.”
Grammy Award winner Chris Stapleton adds, “The first glass of E. H. Taylor, Jr. I ever had was in the studio. Vance Powell, engineer of both music & good times, brought a bottle to the session for inspiration. That week we recorded an entire album, and that album was Traveller. We’ve made it a point to keep a bottle around ever since. So when E. H. Taylor, Jr. approached us to partner up for an exclusive bottling in celebration of Bottled in Bond Day, it seemed like a natural fit since they were already a part of our musical journey. Together we’ve decided to use the occasion to give back to the communities that have been the real magic in both of our stories. The challenges of these times have left many in need, and we’re honored to help address some of these needs through this partnership.”
On March 3, nearly 125 years ago, the Bottled in Bond Act passed, the first consumer protection act. The act guaranteed the integrity of the whiskey to the American consumer, and among other things, guarantees only water can be added to the whiskey. Prior to its passing, disreputable sellers would put items like tobacco juice, turpentine, iodine or other unsavory and potentially poisonous additives to a barrel of whiskey to fill it back up, and/or to give the liquid color. Back in those days, whiskey was usually delivered by the barrel to a local saloon, general store or pharmacy where customers could fill up their own jug directly from the barrel, or retailers could bottle it up for resale on the spot.
The E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel was distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery and put in the barrel on Jan. 5, 2012. Bottled in early February, this bourbon is 9 years old and is Bottled in Bond at 100 proof.
Like the other E. H. Taylor, Jr. releases, this Single Barrel is packaged with elements of Taylor’s original bottlings from the turn of the 20th century. The canister gives a nod to this unique bottling with a commemorative sticker noting the 124th anniversary of Bottled in Bond Day and a label at the bottom explaining in more detail the significance of this bottling.
