100 proof (50% ABV) | 750mL | 10 years old | Bottled-in-Bond | 2026 limited release — Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Cured Oak returns in 2026: Buffalo Trace’s revival of the 2015 one-off that became a legend, now as a 10-year-old bottled-in-bond Kentucky straight bourbon.
“Cured oak” is the whole story: these barrels were built from white oak staves air-dried — cured — for 13 months, more than twice Buffalo Trace’s standard six-month seasoning. The extended curing lets the whiskey pull deeper, more complex flavor from the wood over a decade in the barrel. The official profile: tobacco, dried fruit, vanilla, and toffee, underpinned by seasoned oak and a long, dry finish. Unlike its sibling Four Grain (now an annual release), Cured Oak is a rare, limited offering — not an annual bottling — and it stands entirely apart from the Small Batch, Single Barrel, and Barrel Proof expressions. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting notes
Per Buffalo Trace’s official notes: rich and inviting — tobacco leaf and dried fruit up front, vanilla and toffee through the middle, seasoned oak underneath, and a long, dry finish. Ten years in 13-month-cured oak shows in every sip.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 2026 revival — the return of the 2015 one-off, now 10 years old
- Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof — single distiller, single season
- 13-month cured oak staves (vs. the standard ~6 months)
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat, always, the first time — bottled-in-bond bourbon at 100 proof deserves a clean glass. A few drops of water on the second pour.
Frequently asked questions
What does “cured oak” mean?
The barrel staves were air-dried (seasoned) for 13 months before the barrels were built — more than double Buffalo Trace’s standard stave seasoning — for deeper oak extraction during aging.
Is this the same as the 2015 Cured Oak?
It’s the same concept revived: the original 2015 release was a 17-year-old one-off; the 2026 edition is 10 years old, chosen for balance with the extra-seasoned barrels.
Is Cured Oak an annual release?
No — Buffalo Trace calls it a rare, limited offering. (Its 2026 sibling, Four Grain, joined as an annual release.)
