whiskeyfortheages, Author at Whiskey for the Ages

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118 Review

Posted on 29-November-201928-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118 Review

written on 31-August-2018, updated December 2018

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF A118 REVIEW:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118 (ECBP A118) is bottled at 130.6 Proof, and is not for the faint of heart. But for those who are willing, the reward is a mature flavorful treat. Released in January, batch A118 was the first ECBP bottling of 2018.

ECBP A118 is a strong, sweet, high proof and flavorful bourbon. At $60 bottle (USD), it is well worth the purchase … if one is into big oak, sweetness and high proof. Recommendation: Find yourself a bottle.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF A118 VITAL STATS:

Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Heaven Hill
Classification: Small Batch Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye & 12% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 65.3% ABV (130.6 Proof)
Non-Chill Filtered
Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

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

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass.

ECBP A118 NOSE:

I let this sit about 10 min before bringing it to my nose; the alcohol is there, but not as prevalent as one might expect. The initial blast of fresh buttery oak richness was followed by a great deal of sweetness. The caramel, brown sugar, butterscotch and vanilla are well blended with cinnamon and baking spices.

ECBP A118 PALATE:

Bourbon heat is there but it fades fairly quickly and is followed by rich, buttery caramel sweetness. Pleasant fresh cut oakiness gives way to deep pepper-like notes with lots of vanilla and a hint of mellow stone fruitiness.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
As of this posting, ECBP A118 is one of my my all-time favorite bourbons, and I will be sad when the last dram fades away. While there is plenty of bourbon heat, the old oak colored nectar is buttery and rich with a noticeably creamy mouthfeel.

ECBP A118 FINISH:

For a high proof bourbon the finish of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118 is smooth; there is the expected bite and general warmness but little burn. The finish dissipates fairly fast, leaving a memory of rich blended woody caramel sweetness which readies the mouth for the next sip.

COMPARISON NOTES:

During the Christmas Break of 2018, we held a tasting event with three iterations of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbons: C917, A118, and B518 – all fine bourbons on their own. For my senses, ECBP A118 reigned supreme, followed by B518 with C917 coming in a close third.

ECBP A118 RATING: 93/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
While this ECBP batch is no longer in production, if seen on the shelf, take it or any of the barrel proof Elijah Craig offerings home.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 93/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.

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Brian’s Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat Whiskey Review

Posted on 29-November-201927-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat Whiskey Review

original review written on 25-July-2019

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

I have been intrigued with the idea of “finishing” bourbon in old wine barrels ever since I first heard of 1792’s Port and Angel’s Envy releases a couple of years ago. And as a fan of wheaters, I thought it would be a nice marriage. I’ve enjoyed Dry Fly Straight Wheat Whiskey, so when I saw this iteration on the shelf, I secured a bottle for the bunker.

But how does one rate such a thing? Strictly speaking, the juice is whiskey, but this confection is unlike anything else I have tasted. Dry Fly’s Port Finish Wheat is good – maybe even better than good – but I would not want more than a couple of ounces at any one time as it is quite sweet. Is there such a thing as a “dessert whiskey”? Read the Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat Whiskey Review here!

DRY FLY PORT FINISH WHEAT VITAL STATS:

Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat Whiskey Review Bottle

– Region: Spokane, WA, USA
– Distiller: Dry Fly Distilling
– Classification: Straight Whiskey
– Mash bill: 100% local soft white wheat from eastern Washington
– Process: Twice distilled
– Age: 3 years plus another 6-12 months in the huckleberry-infused port barrels
– Casks: New 53-gallon American Oak barrels
– Barrel Char: #3
– ABV: 45 (90 Proof)
– Price: $34.95 USD in Idaho
– No batch or bottle number identifiers

From the Dry Fly website: “Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat Whiskey is the same whiskey as our Washington Wheat, aged 3+ years in American Oak and then moved to a Port Wine barrel for an average of 6-12 months. It has a soft port finish and a slightly higher tannin level from the port barrel.

“Dry Fly utilizes port barrels obtained from Townshend Cellar, a neighbor … in Washington who produces Huckleberry Port. The port … offers ‘aromas of dried black currant, huckleberry, fig and black cherry with a hint of licorice. The huckleberry, chocolate, coffee and black currant linger with a long satisfying finish.'”

Data from dryflydistilling.com

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:

Fresh ripe huckleberry explodes from the bottle even before the juice is nosed in the Glencairn. Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat has a distinct, deep, red wine fruitiness and packs a Port punch. Further nosing brings soft wheat, figs, red grapes, plums as well as dried prunes, and raisins. There are hints of mulling spices, sweet, yet slightly citrusy vanilla, and bursts of maple which mix with an ever-so-slight touch of oak.

PALATE:

On the tongue, sweet syrupy dessert wine dominates and hides any acidic tones of whiskey. The wheat base adds smoothness. This is a fruity juice: berries, dates, figs, ripe grapes, plums, and loads of plump, gourmet raisins. As noted on the nose, mulling spices and maple sugar sweetness coats the tongue.

Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat Whiskey Review Glass

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat is a loaded and well-balanced fruit train and has a port-style mouthfeel which coats the tongue in syrupy goodness. The slight whiskey heat is a welcome addition to the rich and smooth creaminess. The juice clings to the inside of the Glencairn in oily sheets.

In a glass (and in the bottle), this wheat looks darker than most others, taking on a reddish, copper hue.

FINISH:

Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat has a short finish but offers a lasting warmness of huckleberry syrup infused with spices of nutmeg and cloves.

MY RATING: 85/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
But it won’t be a must have in the bunker.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 85/100 to access other whiskeys with this score. However, this whiskey should not be selected in place of these or other drinks. Dry Fly Port Finish Wheat stands in its own light.
Click Dry Fly to read my thoughts on other whiskey from this distillery.

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Dry Fly Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

Posted on 29-November-201927-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Dry Fly Straight Wheat Whiskey Review

originally reviewed 01March2019-Oct

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

For this Dry Fly Straight Wheat Whiskey Review, I enjoyed Dry Fly Washington Wheat Whiskey more after the bottle had been open for a week and the first pour was gone. The whiskey wasn’t real complex at first, but with time, hints of grainy sweetness and nuts came through. It is a nice warm pour.

DRY FLY STRAIGHT WHEAT WHISKEY VITAL STATS:

– Region: Spokane, WA, USA
– Distiller: Dry Fly Distilling
– Classification: Straight Whiskey
– Age: 3 years
– Mash bill: 100% local soft white wheat
– Casks: New 53-gallon American Oak barrels
– Barrel Char: #3
– ABV: 45 (90 Proof)
– Price: $36.95 USD in Idaho
– No batch or bottle number identifiers

https://dryflydistilling.com/

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass.

NOSE:

Dry Fly Washington Wheat Whiskey has no noticeable alcohol on the nose. Its draughty clean freshness is like trees in the full leaf of summer which then mellows into bitter-sweet dried harvest grain.

PALATE:

A clean alcohol burn hits the tongue and roof of the mouth at first, then dissipates quickly into spicy warmness. A faint hint of citrus can be detected, but in no way could this whisky be considered fruity. There is the typical pepperiness one finds in many whiskeys, but also a nice wheated sweetness which couples nicely with dry dusty corn and a surprising (but welcome) taste of peanuts.

Balance, Body, Feel, and Look:
This whiskey is blended well and its flavours are challenging to detect. Dry Fly Washington Wheat has a creamy mouth feel, and leaves a nice warming sensation in the throat. Its small droplets form in the Glencairn when tipped then extend down the glass in long, clinging legs into the tawny reservoir as the dram is enjoyed.

FINISH:

As noted above, this is a mouth and tongue warming whiskey, which also offers an enjoyable simple burn when swallowed. Dry Fly Straight Wheat finishes subtle and long. When gone, there is a dry but subtle oakiness left in the empty glass not detected on the nose or in the mouth.

MY RATING: 86/100

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

To access other whiskeys with this score, click 86/100.
Click Dry Fly to read my thoughts on other whiskey from this distillery.

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