You’ve seen the lines for Four Grain, but what about the other Buffalo Trace bourbon?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Crowds formed long lines May 20 at Buffalo Trace gift shop for Four Grain.
- A spokesperson said Cured Oak will come to the gift shop but gave no date.
- Both E.H. Taylor Four Grain and Cured Oak carry a suggested retail price of $79.99.
Crowds of bourbon collectors recently stormed Buffalo Trace Distillery for a chance to buy a special release in the gift shop.
The bottle? Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Four Grain. It hit the shelves on May 20 and fans filled the “snake” lines in the parking lot and the sidewalk back to the highway.
But what about the other new bourbon that Sazerac announced the same day, Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Cured Oak? When will that be available?
A spokesperson for the distillery wouldn’t reveal a date, but did say that it definitely will be coming to the gift shop.
However, Buffalo Trace is celebrating the opening of its new John G. Carlisle Cafe with Whiskey Wednesdays throughout May that feature limited quantities of new special releases ... so plan your time off accordingly.
And if you can’t swing a Wednesday, on Sundays in May, the cafe will feature complimentary breakfast bites from 11 a.m. to noon, including complimentary tastings of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain, according to a news release. Other special events are planned daily at the cafe through the end of the month.
Both bottles are “revivals” of previous special releases. The Four Grain was introduced first in 2017, and is 100 proof, created from a recipe that featured corn, rye, wheat and malted barley.
According to the tasting notes, the bourbon has notes of caramel, vanilla and chocolate with a lightly spiced, lingering finish.
“What makes Four Grain so special is how unconventional it is,” said Harlen Wheatley, Buffalo Trace master distiller. “It’s also a clear example of what we call a ‘graduated experiment’ – one that began as a deliberate exploration and evolved into a release worthy of returning as a permanent expression. Rye and wheat are often used separately, but combining them creates a completely different flavor experience. Alongside corn and malted barley, we’re able to build layers of flavor that balance sweetness, spice and depth in a way you don’t typically see in bourbon.”
This whiskey will join the distillery’s ongoing lineup as an annual limited release, according to the company.
Cured Oak is rarer: It was first released in 2015 and like Four Grain also is 100 proof and also is aged for a decade. But the barrels for Cured Oak were made from staves air-dried for 13 months, twice the standard curing time, according to the company.
The result: “This extended curing process allows the whiskey to extract deeper, more complex flavors from the oak during maturation.”
According to the tasting notes, Cured Oak has notes of tobacco, dried fruit, vanilla and toffee, with undertones of seasoned oak and a long, dry finish.
“What you notice with Cured Oak is the added depth and complexity that comes from the extended curing process,” said Wheatley. “Most of our barrels are cured for six months, but with this release the extended curing brings forward richer notes that create a longer, more layered finish.”
Both E.H. Taylor releases have a suggested retail price of $79.99 for a 750mL bottle. Four Grain will also be available at select retailers in Kentucky and Louisiana. Cured Oak will be available to select retailers, bars and restaurants across the U.S.
Highly regarded as the “Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry,” Colonel Taylor purchased O.F.C. Distillery, now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery, in 1869. He is credited with implementing many of the innovative techniques still used today, including advanced grain handling, copper fermentation tanks and steam-heated warehouses. Taylor also played a pivotal role in the passage of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which established quality standards that continue to shape the industry, according to the news release.
This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 12:20 PM.
