The whiskey wash logo
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website
The World's Most-Visited
Whiskey Website

Trending Stories

Search
Lifestyle

Review: Colonel E.H. Taylor Bourbon Barrel-Aged Bigfoot Barleywine-Style Ale

We review Colonel E.H. Taylor Bourbon Barrel-Aged Bigfoot Barleywine-Style Ale, a Sierra Nevada barleywine aged six years before finishing for a seventh in E.H. Taylor Small Batch bourbon barrels.

OVERALL RATING

$25.00
  • Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer.
Like Conversation
Colonel E.H. Taylor Bourbon Barrel-Aged Bigfoot Barleywine-Style Ale review

Tasting Notes

About:

Sierra Nevada barleywine aged six years before finishing for a seventh in E.H. Taylor Small Batch bourbon barrels; 30 proof/15% alcohol by volume; MSRP of $25 for a 750 ml bottle, but it sold out quickly and is more likely to be found for $75 to $90 on secondary markets.
Appearance:
As soon as you pour it into a mug, you feel like you have something special. It’s dark and viscous, almost like a motor oil.
Nose:
“Pungent” is the word that comes to mind. This is not like most beers you’ve had before, which is clear from the first pour. Seven years in wood comes through strongly, and I smell leather, coffee, and charred oak.
Palate:
There’s a coffee-like quality in the mouth, too. But that’s not all. Candy sweetness comes through and lingers, as well. A friend trying it with me thought it brought fruitcake to mind – not the fruitcake we joke about, but good, lush fruitcake. I can’t say I disagree. There are certainly elements of walnuts and pecans, dates, and candied cherries in this barleywine. Final Thoughts: This is a serious beer, full of big flavors that whiskey drinkers are likely to enjoy. I certainly did. I immediately decided to search out more barleywines to see if they hold up to this one – because I would happily bring this out to drink with friends on pretty much any occasion.
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Scott Bernard Nelson

Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer based in Portland, Oregon. While currently working in higher education, he previously dedicated 22 years to journalism, covering impactful events such as 9/11 in Manhattan, crossing into Iraq with U.S. Marines, and contributing to The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of abuse in the Catholic Church, which inspired the film "Spotlight." Since 2019, Scott has shared his insights as a whiskey reviewer for The Whiskey Wash.  

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash

Cutty Sark Blended Scotch Whisky Review

October 30, 2026

Can a budget blend named after a famous tea clipper hold its own? We taste Cutty Sark’s 40% Scotch and see how it stacks up against its Prohibition sibling.

The whiskey wash logo