Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

Original review written March 10, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review: A bourbon I hadn’t had in a while, I forgot how much I enjoy this, with spiciness and baking sweets consistently making me excited for the next sip. 90/100

VITALS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

– Made: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=75%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 66.7% (133.4 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

Visit heavenhill.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This bourbon makes me want to visit the salt flats in the Andes Mountain Range – light and free, but simultaneously deep and rich. The air is cool, but charged and the world’s wonders seem impossible to contemplate in such a pure atmosphere.

Photo by Christopher Crouzet on Unsplash

NOSE:

I’m met with a velvety soft, sugary warmth that screams bourbon right off the bat. Gentle caramel and black pepper combine with a roasted corn-on-the-cob element, with the alcohol surprisingly not being too aggressive.

There’s a little bit of maybe grapefruit, but it’s barely there, and I struggle to sense any other fruits. I can pull brown sugar, graham crackers, maple and perhaps vanilla taffy. Oak is here too, but I’d say that it’s a bit masked by all of these baking-esque flavors.

PALATE:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

– Mouth Feel: This is very oily and viscous, perhaps among the most oily bourbons I have ever tasted, which is certainly impressive.
– Balance: Only the slightest bit heavy on salt. Otherwise, this is a solid blend.
– Visual: Burnt amber in color, and the numerous thick legs drop pretty quickly.

– Taste: The alcohol hits hard initially; however, it is quickly overtaken by a grassy sensation that then melts into cherries. The grassy aspect has a black pepper influence to it that makes it interesting.

I find rye, both as a raw grain and also as a yeasty bread that could have some dried fruits (fig?) embedded in it. In this sense, B518 seems quite hardy and something I’d like to munch on.

I get a nuttiness as well, maybe like cashews – salted at that, as there is a mouth-watering component here akin to how I’d feel after eating some potato chips (obviously just the sensation – not the flavor).

The cherries have not faded, and they mix well with fresh cut oak still retaining its moisture.

As for baking sweets mentioned from the nose, I can taste mostly just light maple syrup and brown sugar. The vanilla and caramel are a bit more subdued now, but nevertheless, these flavors make for an enjoyable pour!

A Kentucky chew kicks the black pepper and saltiness into high gear, which solidifies the aged and intense character of this bourbon.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Definitely long, with the spices and warmth both contributing to a lingering sensation in my mouth and chest. It CAN come back unexpectedly to give you an unwanted and powerful Kentucky hug, so be careful!
– Between Sips: Saltiness, cherries, oak and black pepper wait at the end of each sip, and I have nothing to complain about.

– No More: The bourbon becomes a solid warmth with only hints of spices and cherry flavors the further into the glass I get. It could be more flavorful, I suppose, but I never mind a traditional feel-good bourbon warmth.

The empty Glencairn is an unassuming oak that is aged and full of warmth and with a story all of its own to tell.

COMPARISON NOTES:

I experimented with this bourbon a bit, and pit it up against other tri-annual iterations of Barrel Proof batches: A118 and C917. B518 was my second favorite, with C917 being my favorite of the three.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I think that $60 is a fair price for this bourbon, but I’m hesitant to say that it is worth being priced much higher. It may be difficult to find now (2020); however, if you are able to find it, I do recommend the purchase.

RATING: 90/100

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Stagg Jr. Batch #12 Bourbon Review

Hannah’s Stagg Jr. Batch #12 Bourbon Review

Original review written March 7, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Stagg Jr. Batch #12 Bourbon Review: Offers a robust and intense character in its profile – likely a result of the high proof. This is not for the faint of heart, but enjoyable for experienced whiskey drinkers who like the heat. 93/100

VITALS:
Stagg Jr. Batch #12 Bourbon Review

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas (~8 yrs.)*
– Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill recipe #1 which is a low rye (<10%)
– Casks: New charred oak; Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 66.05% (132.1 proof)*
– Non-chill filtered and Cask Strength
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho

*Stagg Jr. has no batch identifiers beyond ABV/proof. Internet sources claim that this ABV (66.05%) is Batch #12, bottled in the summer of 2019. It is believed to be 7-9 years old.

Visit buffalotracedistillery.com and bourbonex.com for more information about Buffalo Trace products and Stagg Jr. Batch descriptions

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

With the depth in this glass, I think this pour would be superb on a hot, autumn day in the middle of an apple orchard. Light perfumes invade the senses and the taste-buds long for something bright and sweet to give this spirit the flight it has earned.

Photo by James Pettecrew on Unsplash

NOSE:

Dark fruits are immediately apparent, particularly raisins and other assorted dried offerings, like cherries. I also detect cinnamon and nutmeg. Deep inhales provide a very subtle, almost invisible yeast, making me think of a cinnamon-raisin bagel once I put all of the flavors together. However, such deep inhales do have the power to burn, so exercise some caution and respect.

As the glass continues to warm, I can pull a toffee and caramel essence, sweet smoke and sawdust. Black pepper also comes alive, followed by a light, but wet hay. This is sweetened by just a touch of maple.

I’m sure I could find more flavors if I looked, but I think it’s safe to say that this nose is complex and can boast many flavors. Whether it’s over the top or not, we will learn on the sip.

PALATE:
Stagg Jr. Batch #12 Bourbon Review

– Mouth Feel: There’s definitely a rich and oily texture here. Very nice.
– Balance: I had concerns going in, but this is well-blended and quite enjoyable.
– Visual: Terracotta in color, there are ill-defined legs that coat the glass and drip from a weak crown.

– Taste: Aside from a sharp, short alcohol burn, I feel as though I have just bitten into a fig and pastry snack, only for it to be angrily chased off by dried cherries. Then it begins to morph into this wine-esque sip, thick in body and texture, with both red and green grapes popping in like fireworks.

The spice is still there too, with cinnamon, nutmeg and white pepper combining pleasantly.

First impressions are certainly that this is sweet, almost like a fruit syrup. If I look past these dominant flavors, there are peeled caramel apples. Think of the ones you could get from a fast food joint. No, that’s not as criticism.

I can’t find too much grain, aside from a raw and fibrous chew that seems a bit like a misfit amongst the fruit sweetness, but I’m not disappointed. I suppose if I squint, I can taste some peanuts, which are working to contribute both a savory and sweet element. This pairs with a heavy oak quite nicely.

A Kentucky chew wakes up some maraschino cherries and gives a solid punch of alcohol that tingles so much that it is almost painful. Almost.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Surprisingly, this only has a medium finish. I’d expect more from high proof products generally, but it’s still decent.
– Between Sips: Wheat (maybe hay) and some light oak sawdust are the most obvious between sips. There is a twinge of of floral and fruit notes that are indistinct and more like impressions rather than fully-developed presences.

– No More: Plenty of warmth and cherries continue to develop the further I get into the glass, along with green grapes found in fruit cups.

The empty Glencairn might as well be a lumber mill with how much oak, particularly sawdust, is bursting from the glass. I absolutely love this smell.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I think that it is quite rare to find something that is such a high proof from a well-known distillery priced at just $50. If you find a Stagg Jr., I definitely think it’s worth it. If you are just a beginner at whiskey or bourbon, however, wait until you are ready for such a high proof.

RATING: 93/100

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Stagg Jr Batch #12 Review

Brian’s Stagg Jr Batch #12 Review:

written on 07-March-2020

STAGG JR BATCH #12 BOURBON REVIEW:

Stagg Jr Batch #12 is incredibly complex; its aromas and flavors never stop coming (as seen in the traits wheel below). My salivary glands were preparing as I nosed, and even so, at the first sip they weren’t quite ready for the flavor explosion. While quite hot, this is a phenomenal pour. I wish it wasn’t limited by the one bottle left in the cabinet.

STAGG JR BATCH 12 VITAL STATS:
Stagg Jr Batch #12 Review

– Batch 12, Released Summer of 2019*
– Category: Small Batch
– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Buffalo Trace
– Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 (low rye <10% rye)
– Cask: New charred oak
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Age: nas (~8 years)
– ABV: 66.05% (132.1 Proof)
– Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho

Learn more at https://buffalotracedistillery.com/.

*Other than ABV and proof numbers, bottles of Stagg Jr have no batch or other identifiers. An internet search for the proof of “132.3” reveals this bottle to be Batch 12, bottled in the summer of 2019.

Go to bourbonex.com for detailed Stagg Jr, batch information.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

The first full draw is pure ethyl alcohol: harsh and strong, but with just a little time the heat fades to a fine herbally-sherried potpourri of freshly opened tobacco pouches and drying corn. Hints of berries, apricots and bitter citrus zest and dark fruits of raisins and figs mix with a dusting of cinnamon, ginger and pepper. Careful nosing is treated with bittersweet chocolate and light vanilla infused rye bread. The sweets keep coming as brown sugar and light molasses meld traces of pecan nuttiness into fresh cut oak and hazy barrel char. This is a musty pour as a damp potting soil element adds depth and complexity.

PALATE:

As on the nose, the first sip is strong; it is both hot and throat warming. As my mouth acclimates, fine sherry mixes with an herbalness of faint roasted corn. Citrus zest and blood orange freshness weave in and out with dried, tart montmorency cherries, dark raisins and figs. Spices of ginger, black pepper, and rye blend with bittersweet chocolate chips and light vanilla. Most of the sweetness in the juice comes from fruit, however there are simple elements of brown sugared caramel and maple syrup as well. This bourbon is wood forward with plenty of fresh cut dry and heavy oak blending with smoky-sweet and hazy barrel spice. I love its musty earthiness.

Stagg Jr Batch #12 Review

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
This is solid and a well blended bourbon. As I nosed, saliva filled my mouth in anticipation of the first sip, yet when I tasted, the flavors were a bit unexpected; I sensed a subtle yet enjoyable aftertaste. In my mouth, the juice is complex, big and quite viscous, rough and gritty. In the Glencairn, its well defined but thin crown clings then gives up long legs which fall into the terracotta colored pool.

FINISH:

At 132.3 proof, Stagg Jr Batch 12 offers an exceptionally long and heated finish. After a good chew, the heat gives the throat a nice warming as its many aromas and flavors blend. Sensations of cherry infused sherry and faint herbal tobacco notes fade into citrus zest returning to dark fruit leather. Loads of black pepper and rye spice continue to balance fruity and faint maple syrup sweetness. While the mustiness sensed on the palate adds complexity, dry and heavy oak is ever present as the barrel is easily found in the empty Glencairn with simple wafting.

MY RATING: 90/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 90/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Stagg.

WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Stagg Jr Batch #12 Review
Stagg Jr Batch #12 Review

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