E.H. Taylor 18yr "Marriage"

 

Nose: Deep-ingrained sweetness with a backdrop of oak. Slight spice to the nose in both heat and grassy undertones – likely the rye was coming out. There is a light other air of sweetness that reminds me of Grandma’s cooking – a warmth and comfort that almost smiles at you.

 

Mid-palate: Again, that deep caramelized brown sugar that as you finish and wait, it seems to go straight down your chest and start to warm the whole body. I feel like I just got hugged by someone dear to me. There is the Kentucky hug, but that reminds me of more like a dad hugging you tight and saying, let me talk to you about Whiskey, son. This hug is more of a loving embrace from a smiling Grandma – gentle, but loving while in the backdrop, you can smell her cooking. Slight tons of earth and grassiness in the backdrop, which may be the rye, but it is a backdrop while letting the sweet heat characteristic shine in the front. Beyond all that, you can taste the intermingled oak that surrounds it. My three sips seem to be like a play occurring as the flavor morphs from act 1 to 2 to 3. And once the play ends, the flavor lingers in your mouth and leaves a slight sadness as you want it to continue.

 

Verdict: I think of four grain as a “marriage” as it has all four grains as well… this is a more mature version of that. EHT 18yr Marriage is the first recently released bottle that I’ve tasted that rivals some of the epic items of old. Such a great balance of grains and flavor. If real marriages are as well woven like this, our world would be a better place.