Compare
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Put Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year next to E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 15 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) +7 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$240 – $2000 | ~$45 – $90 ~$1053 less |
- Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat (Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).