Review #4: E.H. Taylor Amaranth Grain of the Gods: Bourbon

Score: 8.7 / 10

Distillery: Buffalo Trace

Type: Bonded Kentucky Straight

Devin tried so hard to find this bottle last year. It was pretty much the only allocated whiskey that he was looking to get. Narrowly missing it in a few rare whiskey events, (you need to be 1-3 if you think your're getting this unless there is also BTAC at the event), he eventually gave up on his dreams. E.H. Taylor line is one of his favorite whiskey lines, but the "rare" bottles are not even close to worth the effort that you have to put into it. I think everyone learns that the hard way at some point while chasing some of the best whiskey brands.

Then one Christmas holiday morning, Mike sent him a picture showing what he just got at a local store of ours and the year came to a magnificent close! If you want to hear the full story of finding this bottle and learn more about what it takes to get this and other highly allocated whiskey, see episode 11 of our whiskey podcast Po It Up here.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: butter, buttered popcorn, toasted sugar, cinnamon, oats, vanilla, hint of citrus

Palate: very oily that thoroughly coats the mouth. Has an intense burst of citrus that leaves tingly spearmint on the tongue which transforms into cinnamon. Almost like taking a piece of spearmint gum and twisting it around a piece of cinnamon gum then chewing on it.

Finish: long lingering creamy, buttery and butterscotch finish. 3-5 minutes after drinking spearmint lingers as a second finish.

Score 8.7

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability: We're you not reading above? Impossible! This is a 1-2 time release and highly allocated. Unless you are highly connected you're going to be paying huge secondary markups for this.

Definitely brings something unique to any whiskey collection with intense mint/spearmint flavors and a "double finish". Not worth the insane secondary price, but I paid MSRP and this is an impressive bottle at $74. Thanks to a local Denver shop for this Christmas gift!

"Like an hour after you used mouthwash and you're starting your work day" - Devin

"No one ever pays me in gum!" - Mike