Colonel E.H. Taylor | Amaranth Grains of the Gods

Amaranth “Grain of the Gods” is the tenth release in the E.H. Taylor, Jr. lineup. The standard lineup includes Small Batch Bourbon, Single Barrel Bourbon, Barrel Proof Bourbon, and Straight Rye. According to the company Press Release, Amaranth was aged over 10 years and will be a one-time only release that will start hitting markets in late July.

Like most E.H. Taylor releases, Amaranth Bourbon is Bottled-in-Bond. To be labelled Bottled-in-Bond, the whiskey must be the product of one distillation season and one distiller at a single distillery, aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years, and it must be bottled at exactly 100 proof. Additionally, the Bottled-in-Bond label must clearly identify the distillery where it was distilled and where it was bottled, if different.

Caramel, butterscotch, baking spices, and seasoned oak come together in a rich, fragrant presentation. The overall aroma was borderline incredible with the first pour, but seemed to taper off in its intensity with subsequent pours on the following days. Nevertheless, ethanol is kept in check and the aroma remained complex, inviting, and most notably, interesting with a unique quality I just can’t quite put my finger on.

Its thin mouthfeel is immediately noticeable, but this is countered with a vibrant set of flavors. Butterscotch, honey, caramel, summer fruits, and again a touch of oak. It’s a noticeable step down from the intensity of the aroma, but still enjoyable.

Sweet flavors tease at first, but traces of leather and tobacco quickly develop as well. Some bitterness follows along with a tannic note. It’s medium-length at best, and feels somewhat abbreviated and subpar compared to the rest of the sip.