October 06, 2026

E.H. Taylor Straight Rye vs. Small Batch Bourbon: Which Should You Buy?

Same Colonel, two very different pours

You're standing in front of the E.H. Taylor collection and two bottles are staring back at you. They share a name, a distillery, a proof and a bottled-in-bond label. One is E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon. The other is E.H. Taylor Straight Rye. On paper they look like twins. In the glass, they're more like siblings who chose very different careers.

The difference comes down to one thing: what goes into the mash. Small Batch is a corn-driven bourbon. Straight Rye skips corn entirely. That single decision changes everything from how sweet the whiskey tastes to which cocktail it belongs in.

Below we break down exactly how the two compare, which one fits your palate, and why plenty of Taylor fans end up keeping both on the shelf. If you want the full family tree first, start with our complete guide to E.H. Taylor bourbon.

The quick answer

If you like your whiskey sweet, smooth and full of caramel, buy Small Batch. If you like pepper, spice and a drier finish, buy Straight Rye. If you're buying a gift and don't know their taste, Small Batch is the safer pick.

 

E.H. Taylor Small Batch

E.H. Taylor Straight Rye

Style

Kentucky straight bourbon

Straight rye whiskey

Grains

Mostly corn, plus rye and malted barley

Rye and malted barley, no corn

Proof

100 (bottled-in-bond)

100 (bottled-in-bond)

Minimum age

4 years

4 years

Flavor in a word

Sweet

Spicy

Key notes

Caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, light oak

Black pepper, baking spice, dried fruit, herbs

Best cocktail

Old Fashioned

Manhattan

Best for

Bourbon lovers, first-timers, gifts

Rye fans, cocktail people, the curious

Shop

Small Batch

Straight Rye

What they have in common

Before we get to the differences, it's worth knowing why these two bottles feel like family.

Both are bottled-in-bond. That label is a federal standard, not a marketing phrase. It means the whiskey came from one distillery in one distilling season, aged at least four years in a government-bonded warehouse, and was bottled at exactly 100 proof. It's a promise of transparency, and it's fitting for a brand named after the man who fought to create that standard in 1897.

Both come from Buffalo Trace. The same Frankfort, Kentucky distillery behind Blanton's, Eagle Rare and W.L. Weller makes both bottles.

Both are 100 proof. That's a sweet spot: enough strength to carry real flavor and stand up in a cocktail, but not so hot that it overwhelms a newer whiskey drinker.

So when you compare the two, you're comparing almost nothing but the grain recipe. That makes this one of the cleanest bourbon-versus-rye experiments you can buy.

E.H. Taylor Small Batch: the crowd-pleaser

E.H. Taylor Small Batch is built on Buffalo Trace's low-rye bourbon recipe, which means corn does most of the talking. Corn brings natural sweetness, and new charred oak barrels add caramel and vanilla on top. The result is the kind of bourbon people describe with dessert words.

What it tastes like: Caramel and butterscotch up front, a little vanilla and sweet corn in the middle, and a gentle pinch of baking spice and toasted oak on the way out. The finish is warm and buttery rather than sharp.

How to drink it: Neat or with one large ice cube is the way to start. A Glencairn whisky glass helps you pick up the aroma, which is half the fun. Small Batch also makes an outstanding Old Fashioned, where its natural sweetness means you can go easy on the sugar.

Who it's for: Anyone trying E.H. Taylor for the first time, bourbon fans who love sweeter pours, and anyone buying a gift without a cheat sheet on the recipient's taste. It's also the bottle we'd hand someone who says they "don't really like whiskey." It changes minds.

Like it and want more character? Small Batch has two older siblings, and our Small Batch vs. Single Barrel vs. Barrel Proof comparison explains where to go next.

E.H. Taylor Straight Rye: the rebel

E.H. Taylor Straight Rye does something most Kentucky ryes don't: it leaves corn out completely. The recipe is just rye and malted barley. Most ryes made in Kentucky still sneak some corn in for sweetness, so Taylor's no-corn approach makes it a genuine outlier, even within Buffalo Trace's own lineup.

Without corn's sugar to smooth things over, rye gets to be fully itself: peppery, spicy and a little herbal. The malted barley adds a bready, toasty backbone that keeps it from tasting thin.

What it tastes like: Cracked black pepper and baking spice on the nose, followed by dried fruit, rye bread and a hint of something green, almost like fresh dill. There's still a touch of caramel from the barrel, but it plays a supporting role. The finish is drier and longer than Small Batch, with spice that lingers.

How to drink it: Neat, it's a conversation starter. In a cocktail, it's a star. Rye's spice cuts through sweet vermouth and bitters in a way bourbon can't, which is why bartenders reach for it for a Manhattan or a Sazerac-style drink.

Who it's for: Rye drinkers, cocktail lovers, and bourbon fans who are ready for something different. It also tends to be harder to find than Small Batch, so collectors like to grab it when they see it. Find more ryes in our rye whiskey collection.

Want it turned up to full volume? E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye is the same recipe, uncut and unfiltered, at barrel strength.

Head to head

Round 1: Neat

Pour a half ounce of each side by side and taste Small Batch first. It's softer, so it won't get lost after the rye. You'll notice the bourbon coats your tongue with sweetness, while the rye hits the sides of your mouth with spice and dries out faster. Neither is "better." They're answering different questions.

Winner: Small Batch for easy sipping, Straight Rye for a pour that keeps you thinking.

Round 2: Cocktails

Each bottle has a cocktail it was practically made for.

The Small Batch Old Fashioned

  1. Add ¼ oz simple syrup and 2 dashes Angostura bitters to a rocks glass.
  2. Add 2 oz E.H. Taylor Small Batch and one large ice cube.
  3. Stir for 20 seconds and finish with an expressed orange peel.

The Straight Rye Manhattan

  1. Add 2 oz E.H. Taylor Straight Rye, 1 oz sweet vermouth and 2 dashes Angostura bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
  2. Stir for 30 seconds until well chilled.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a cherry.

You'll find bitters and syrups in our mixers and glassware in barware.

Winner: A tie, and that's the point. Small Batch owns the Old Fashioned; Straight Rye owns the Manhattan.

Round 3: Food

Small Batch's caramel sweetness loves smoky, savory food: barbecue, a grilled steak, or a slice of pecan pie for dessert. Straight Rye's spice pairs better with richer, saltier bites like charcuterie, aged cheddar or a cigar on the patio. For that last one, browse our cigar collection.

Winner: Small Batch for dinner, Straight Rye for the cheese board.

Round 4: Gifting

Small Batch is the safer bet, because almost every bourbon drinker likes it. Straight Rye is the more thoughtful one for someone who already knows what they like, and it says "I paid attention." Many E.H. Taylor bottles can also be personalized through our engraving service; see real examples in the engraving gallery.

Winner: Small Batch for a bourbon lover you don't know well, Straight Rye for the whiskey friend who has everything.

So which should you buy?

Here's the cheat sheet.

Buy E.H. Taylor Small Batch if:

  • You already know you love bourbon, especially sweeter styles.
  • It's your first bottle of E.H. Taylor.
  • You make Old Fashioneds at home.
  • You're buying a gift and want a guaranteed hit.

Buy E.H. Taylor Straight Rye if:

  • Your favorite part of whiskey is the spice.
  • You make Manhattans, or want to start.
  • You already own Small Batch and want something genuinely different.
  • You like owning bottles that are a little harder to come by.

Or skip the decision entirely

Honestly, the most fun way to understand these two is to taste them side by side, and that's exactly what the E.H. Taylor Small Batch, Single Barrel & Straight Rye Value Bundle is built for. You get both bottles from this article plus Single Barrel, which makes it a ready-made tasting night for three. It's also one of the best gifts in the bundles & gifts collection for a whiskey lover who's hard to shop for.

And if Taylor sparks a bigger Buffalo Trace habit, the Blanton's, E.H. Taylor, Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace & Weller 107 Value Bundle is a one-box tour of the distillery.

E.H. Taylor Rye vs. Small Batch FAQ

Is E.H. Taylor Straight Rye a bourbon?

No. It's a straight rye whiskey made from rye and malted barley, with no corn. Bourbon must be at least 51% corn, so Straight Rye can't be called bourbon. Small Batch is the bourbon of the two.

Which is sweeter, E.H. Taylor Small Batch or Straight Rye?

Small Batch. Its corn-heavy recipe gives it caramel, vanilla and butterscotch sweetness. Straight Rye is drier and spicier.

Are both E.H. Taylor Rye and Small Batch the same proof?

Yes. Both are bottled-in-bond at exactly 100 proof (50% ABV) and aged at least four years.

Which E.H. Taylor is best for an Old Fashioned?

Small Batch. Its natural sweetness balances the bitters beautifully. For a Manhattan, reach for Straight Rye instead.

Which should I try first?

If you're new to E.H. Taylor, start with Small Batch. It's the most approachable bottle in the lineup and the clearest picture of the Taylor house style.

What's the difference between E.H. Taylor Straight Rye and Barrel Proof Rye?

They share a recipe, but Barrel Proof Rye is bottled uncut at barrel strength, so it's much more intense than the 100-proof Straight Rye.

Shop E.H. Taylor at Whiskey Caviar

Whichever side of the bourbon-versus-rye line you land on, you'll find it here:

For barrel-strength Taylor, see our guide to every E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof batch.

Cheers, and please drink responsibly.