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E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch vs Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year
Put E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch next to Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch | Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 15 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) +7 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $90 ~$1053 less | ~$240 – $2000 |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch and Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 8 out of 10
spice 5/3 spice: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
- Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year: Fifteen-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line, made at Buffalo Trace. Rich toffee, leather and dried fruit with the oak well blended in.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year if you want a famously hard-to-find, rich, 15-year wheater with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch); neat (Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year).