Buffalo Trace has a history of dropping some of the most extravagant bourbons in the game. Eagle Rare 25 turned heads at nearly $10K. Weller Millennium came dressed in crystal, priced like a Rolex. But their latest ultra-premium release? It slipped into the wild with barely a whisper.
Meet the EH Taylor Distiller’s Council — a 100-proof, Bottled-in-Bond bourbon wrapped in a vintage decanter and tucked inside a pristine white box. No press release. No rollout. Just a quiet entry into select stores with a $1,500 price tag and a whole lot of questions. This bottle snuck into the wild without much more than a TTB label registration in December 2024.
If you’ve followed our Most Expensive Bourbons of 2025 roundup, you’ll recognize the pattern: Buffalo Trace is carving out a new ultra-high-end tier. Distiller’s Council fits this pattern.
The Legacy Behind the Label
Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. wasn’t just a bourbon pioneer — he was the guy who fought for standards when whiskey was still full of snake oil. He helped pass the Bottled-in-Bond Act in 1897, cleaned up distilling practices, and built the legendary OFC distillery, now Buffalo Trace.
The modern EH Taylor line pays homage to that legacy, with bottles like Small Batch, Single Barrel, and Barrel Proof becoming cult favorites. They’re tough to find on shelves and often sell for multiples of retail.
If you’re chasing one down, our EH Taylor Price Guide breaks down what each bottle should cost — and what you’ll probably have to pay.
First Look: Decadence in a Box
The Distiller’s Council release comes packaged in a lavish, collectible presentation:
- Bottle: Elegant, wide-shouldered crystal decanter, inspired by vintage Old Taylor Grecian-style bottles
- Stopper: Custom glass or crystal topper
- Case: Hinged white box with copper-toned accents and die-cut insert
- Interior Notes: A nod to a 1990 meeting with Elmer T. Lee and a reference to white corn usage—hinting at a potentially unique mash bill
Claimed tasting notes from the box:
- Toasted sugar
- Dark caramel
- Dried cherry
- Baking spice
- Fine oak
- Nougat
It’s worth noting that no one in the community has confirmed those yet — few bottles have actually been cracked open.
What We Know So Far
Here’s the rundown based on everything that’s surfaced:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Name | Colonel E.H. Taylor Distiller’s Council |
| Proof | 100 (Bottled-in-Bond) |
| Age | Not stated (must be minimum 4 years per BIB law) |
| Mash Bill | Unknown — box mentions white corn |
| Packaging | Crystal-style decanter, hinged presentation box |
| MSRP | $1,500 |
| Secondary Market | Around $5,000 and rising |
| Distribution | Quiet release to control states and select stores |
| Official Announcement | None so far |
It’s hard to know what to make of Distiller’s Council. On one hand, it’s the most polished, over-the-top EH Taylor bottle we’ve ever seen. On the other, it landed with no backstory and zero fanfare — rare for a brand that usually leans into the pageantry.
At $1,500, it’s not in the same galaxy as Weller Millennium, but it’s also miles beyond the standard EH Taylor lineup in price and presentation. Whether that’s justified will depend on what’s actually in the bottle — and whether anyone’s willing to open one.
FAQ: EH Taylor Distiller’s Council
It’s a limited-edition, ultra-premium bourbon release from Buffalo Trace under the Colonel E.H. Taylor line. Bottled at 100 proof and labeled Bottled-in-Bond, it features a crystal-style decanter and a high-end presentation box, retailing for $1,500.
Buffalo Trace has not confirmed the exact mash bill. However, the box mentions white corn, which suggests it may be a unique or experimental grain recipe, possibly deviating from the standard low-rye mash bill used in other EH Taylor releases.
No, there is no age statement on the bottle. Because it’s Bottled-in-Bond, it must be at least 4 years old, but the exact aging is unknown. It’s almost certainly much, much older than 4 years.
It’s been spotted in a handful of control states and select liquor retailers. There is no official distribution list, and availability is extremely limited. Most bottles are now circulating through secondary markets.
While the suggested retail price is $1,500, bottles are selling for around $4,000 on the secondary market as of mid-2025.
