Old Taylor Entrance

Buffalo Trace Distillery has purchased the Old Taylor Bourbon label and inventory from Beam Global Spirits & Wine.

“We are ecstatic about this transaction,”

said Mark Brown, president and CEO of Buffalo Trace Distillery.

“Part of our family is returning and we are thrilled to welcome home a true bourbon whiskey pioneer.”

E.H. Taylor, the great-nephew of President Zachary Taylor lived with his great uncle after the death of his parents. He moved to Kentucky where he was adopted by Col. E.H. Taylor, Sr. His link to Buffalo Trace distillery goes back to 1870 when he bought the distillery and modernized it. He named the distillery O.F.C (Old Fire Copper) and made it a leader in the Bourbon business.

Taylor eventually found himself in hugh debt trying to keep the most modern equipment to make the best Bourbon. The outcome was that O.F.C. was sold to George T. Stagg, but the new owner kept the prestigious name.

It’s an exciting, new opportunity for us. We are very proud of the bourbon we produce at Buffalo Trace and to be able to carry on what E.H. Taylor started more than a century ago is a real honor.

said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller.

Chuck Cowdery reports

An indication of the current shortage of fully aged bourbon, the sale included enough Beam whiskey to support the Taylor brand until Buffalo Trace can make it from their own stocks. (Old Taylor is a 6-year-old straight bourbon.) Both Beam and Trace make a lot of whiskey and Taylor is a small brand, so clearly supplies are strained enough that whiskey needed to be part of the deal.