Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 Review
Original review written February 23, 2021
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Though the mouth feel didn’t quite impress me, I think all of the flavors make for an interesting and unique profile, and I could see myself reaching for this again. 88/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Barrel Proof; Small Batch
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=78%; Rye=10; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Non-chill filtered
– ABV: 61.8% (123.6 proof)
– Price: $59.99 USD in Idaho
Visit heavenhill.com for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
This fits in well in a rose garden setting, with the thorns perhaps being in a higher concentration than the blossoms themselves. The sky could be a little gray, and the atmosphere is a little humid, but it’s peaceful nonetheless. A121 keeps the intrigue alive without being too pushy or aggressive.
Photo by Yousef Espanioly on Unsplash
NOSE:
This nose certainly has the dark depth of an ECBP without question. Dark brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, and white pepper burst from the glass first, with accompanying oak being old and deep. The alcohol isn’t particularly pungent here, or at least it’s less intense than I would imagine anything above 120 proof to be. Deep draws coax out earth and corn, but again, the scent is very rich and warm. There is also a bit of seasoned leather, figs, and prunes that blend well with the other aromas that work together to make an overall, very exciting invitation.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: I find this a little watery, to be honest. Once it moves around the palate, it graduates to an oily feel, but as it touches the tip of the tongue and the lips, it feels very light and thin.
– Balance: Decent. Nothing sticks out awkwardly, aside from a slight bitterness, but it’s still enjoyable.
– Visual: Flame in color, there is a clinging droplet crown and long, clinging legs.
– Taste: Grapes, oak, fruit leather, and corn are the first things I notice to cross my palate. The corn seems present, but it is bland and turns a bit more vegetable-y. In a way, though whiskey is a liquid, this almost has a crunch to it and strangely reminds me of water chestnuts. Black pepper and ginger kick in as well, along with a bitterness at the back of the tongue, almost like a bitter walnut. There is a floral element here also, and perhaps it is also contributing to the bitterness that I am finding. If I had to venture a guess, I would say that it’s rosy.
The alcohol is hot, but it isn’t something that really scares me much. In fact, I think with the mouth feel, it almost seems tame. When I do a Kentucky Chew, however, the alcohol strengthens into a black pepper/cinnamon haze with a touch of cherry and that rosy walnut bitterness.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Actually quite short. The alcohol futilely kicks a little, but not much. And the flavors just linger softly.
– Between Sips: Fruit leather, rose, and a light oak sit between sips, and make for a little bitter aftertaste, but it’s not unpleasant.
– No More: I think the oaky woodiness gets stronger the further into the glass I get, while any of the sweet notes I had noted earlier seem to dissipate. The bitterness kicks up as well, and while it does not taste bad, I do wish there was a bit more variety.
The empty Glencairn is a sweet oak with a bit of white pepper spice that is refreshing and stinging. It would have been interesting to see these flavors in the glass and pour itself, but it is nice, I suppose, to get a glimpse of what could have been here.
THE ADDITION OF WATER
– This section written on February 26, 2021 –
Water can often tame bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically change the proof of the pour. Rather water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. As such, 2 and 4 drops of distilled water were added to their own respective 1.5 oz. pours of ECBP A121 to detect any potential differences:
A tangy fruit leather comes out, and immediately I know that I enjoy this bourbon more with the addition of two drops rather than neat. The ginger also is stronger along with dark brown sugar. It’s far less bitter than it was when I first sampled this, and overall, it is sweeter as well. I also find some herbal tones to this, which improves its complexity for me. (RATING: 89/100)
With four drops, it’s as though the heat has actually been kicked up! There is a hint more of black pepper, and now the introduction of a dark fruit. Perhaps it is figs. Again, like with the two drops, there is little to no bitterness that was found in the neat pour. However, unlike the two drop pour, the grassiness fades, replaced predominantly by sweetness and the touch of spice. (RATING: 93/100)
WORTH THE PRICE?
As far as Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs go, I’d say there are better offerings that I’ve had, but this one is still entertaining, and for $60, I think it’s a fair price. I can see how this could be very enjoyable as it’s very unique and original. For me, adding water definitely improved it and I am certainly more willing to go for another glass later. Would I buy it again? I think so.
OVERALL RATING: 88/100
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