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E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel vs Old Forester 86 Proof
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel and Old Forester 86 Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $140 | ~$20 – $26 ~$82 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel: Single barrels from the warehouse Colonel Taylor built, bonded at 100 proof. More oak and more concentration than the small batch, and one of the most sought-after regular releases Buffalo Trace makes.
- Old Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel if you want the most concentrated bonded expression of the Buffalo Trace profile, and the hunt does not deter you with more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).