Author: whiskeyfortheages

Blood Oath Pact 7 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Blood Oath Pact 7 Review

Original review written November 16, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Innovative, original, new, this is a dry, sweet, pour with character unique to others, and I am happy we have a bottle. I’m looking forward to my next pour, and am already lamenting when this bottle is inevitably emptied without a replacement waiting. 93/100

VITALS:
Blood Oath Pact 7 Review

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Lux Row Distillers
– Classification: Special Finish Bourbon
– Age: nas (includes two 8 year rye bourbons and one 14 year old rye bourbon)
– Mash Bill: unpublished
– Casks: One of the 8 year old’s finished in Sauternes casks; undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 49.3% (98.6 proof)
– Price: $99.95 USD in Idaho (2021)

Visit luxco.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Lay on your back in the middle of a grassy field with the sun shining down on you with all of its brightness. Not too hot, and not too cold, this bourbon is just a good friend to relax with and not have to think about anything with. It’s a simple indulgence and quintessentially a great day. The world seems to spin slowly so you can appreciate every moment properly and to the fullest.

Photo by Joseph Young on Unsplash

NOSE:

I can certainly smell the wine influence, providing warmth and an immediate richness. A hint of currants, and even dried cranberries lift the back end of the inhale to add some additional character. There’s light vanilla, pastry, toffee, and some almonds to ease the balance of the fruit. I get a bit of white pepper and rye, but otherwise, the spices are happy to sit behind the fruits and sweetness. They contribute to the blend on this nose quite well, nonetheless. I also still do find the corn of the bourbon mash bill – roasted and with much of the corn sweetness present.

I admit I am struggling to find the actual wine casks or any other strong wood element, but this does not bother me so much. What is there, is incredibly mild, as is the alcohol. It smells warm, great, and inviting.

PALATE:
Blood Oath Pact 7 Review

– Mouth Feel: I was slightly disappointed at this mouth feel. With Pact 7 being finished in wine casks, (white wine casks or not), I expected this to have a bit more body than what I’m finding. Nevertheless, this is smooth, if not slightly dry, like some wines can be.
– Balance: Unexpected. I did not anticipate any kind of fruit acidity, but it is here, backed by dry sweet in a way that just works really well.
– Visual: Tawny in color, this has fat legs that drop quickly, leaving behind an inverted crown with some clinging droplets.

– Taste: I find the acidity of the grapes with a distinct brightness I wasn’t anticipating. I find a very light vanilla paired with the almonds of the nose, which create the slightest touch of bitterness. There’s still some raisins, but they don’t add much to the depth of this spirit, rather just contribute further to the overall acidity. In fact, there really is not a strong dark fruit presence in this glass, aside from a fleeting dark stone fruit – maybe plum or plucot – that only appears occasionally on sips.

The oak is also stronger on the palate, I am finding. Whether it is the oak of the wine casks or the oak of the bourbon, I am not sure. It is a new oak; that much is certain. The spice is still subtle, but it does make its presence a bit more known on the palate than it had on the nose. There’s some light ginger, white pepper, and the lasting rye.

All the while, the alcohol is incredibly mild. There’s a nip that comes in and out on the sips, but for the most part, it’s smooth and gentle all the way through. This could become dangerous quickly if you’re not careful, because it certainly does not taste like it’s 90+ proof. In fact, I’d say this is very reminiscent of what I could find in a Riesling, but with just a bit more proof. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, green grapes explode in juicy bursts with a fair amount of alcohol burn… but not enough of a burn to dissuade me from taking another chew.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. I don’t find a particular high amount of warmth, but there is some aftertaste.
– Between Sips: Acidity and sweet grapes linger between sips, and I am not at all upset about it. It all works quite well.

– No More: This stays consistent the further into the glass I get, but with its dangerous level only increasing. This whole bottle would be so easy to finish with a few good (appreciating) friends, and you’d barely realize it was happening.

The empty Glencairn is a fruity oak with even some of the fruit juice still present.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$100 is a big ask. If you’re considering buying Blood Oath – any pact – realize that you are not purchasing tradition, or tried-and-true methods. You’re not buying history or a name that has been in the game since the beginning. Instead, recognize you’re purchasing innovation, creativity, and originality. This brand is fresh and willing to try new things, and for me, that kind of envelope-pushing is worth a look. If you’ve got $100 to burn and acknowledge what you’re buying, give this a try, because it is most certainly a treat.

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 REVIEW RATING: 93/100

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon Review:

reviewed on 09-November-2021

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON REVIEW:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon (ECBP C920) starts hot, both on the nose and palate. But once acclimated, one can get fruit, spice, sweet and wood. The bourbon is rich and oily and has one of the longest finishes I’ve experienced. This is another solid and well balanced barrel proof offering from Heaven Hill.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon

Category: Small Batch Barrel Proof
Region: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Distillery: Heaven Hill/Bernheim Distillery
Mashbill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Barrel Char: #3
Barrel entry proof: 125
Age: 12 Years
Non-chill filtered
ABV: 66.4% (132.8 Proof)
Availability: Tri-annual Limited Release
Release Date: September 2020
Batch number identifier: C920
▪”C” Third (last) release of the year
▪”9″ Released in September
▪”20″ Released in 2020
Price: $59.99 (2020-Idaho)
NABCA CSC #: 17917

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

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

The first one and a half ounces were taken out of the newly opened bottle and mixed with the bourbon in our Infinity Bottle Project. Then, by alternating pours, four once review amounts went into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON NOSE:

The first waft of ECBP C920 is so full of potent ethanol, I altered my usually deep inhales. After several more intakes, my nose (and eyes) acclimated. Then came roasting corn, backed by a deep aroma of fermenting silage. While not unpleasant, the new scent is certainly unusual and one I have not encountered before in a bourbon. Continued nosing brings ripe berries, fresh apples, apricots, and maybe a bit of candied citrus. Spices of cinnamon, ginger, green pepper and rye balance the sweets of light vanilla, soft caramel corn, brown sugar, and toasted marshmallows along with a light drizzling of honey. While I do not pick up a lot of woodiness, I do sense pecans, light fresh cut oak and toasted wood which pairs nicely with the earthiness of crisp autumn leaves raked into piles.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON PALATE:

Even before the first sip of ECBP C920 nestles into its spot in the front of my palate, I am hit with the warm bite of cinnamon red hots. Then comes roasted corn hiding in tart berries, cooked apples, cherries, and grilled peaches. As on the nose, spices of cinnamon, ginger, black pepper and rye spar with bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar, toasted marshmallows and dark honey … with some flakey pie crust and a touch of light molasses thrown in for complexity. The spice and sweets work together because they are in balance with flavors of light dry oak, earthy toasted wood and musty barrel char.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
As the liquid settles in, I am surprised at how easy it is to hold in my mouth considering the proof. While ECBP C920 gives my tongue an aggressive tickle, I find it rich and oily. After each sip, a thick clinging curtain fades into the burnt amber colored pool leaving behind a broken ring of droplets. This is another solid and well balanced barrel proof offering from Heaven Hill.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON FINISH:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon bites with an exceptionally long almost hot finish. There is a slight aftertaste of mown hay and a hint of bitter citrus. But while greatly diminished, the spices and sweets noted on the nose and taste buds pass to the finish. And when the last dram is downed, alcohol and a deep earthiness of freshly sawn oak can drawn from the empty Glencairn.

THE ADDITION OF WATER

Water can often tame big, bold whiskeys and allow aromas and flavors to bloom. The addition of 2-4 drops will not radically lower the proof of the pour. Re-evaluation of ECBP C920 occurred using measured pours and precise amounts of distilled water to measure the effect.

Adding two drops to 1.5 ounces of this bourbon reduces the proof to 132.41 (down from 132.8) but doesn’t take much away from the aroma, flavors or finish. There’s still alcohol – both on the nose and in the first sip. The corn, berries and apples still mix with cinnamon, ginger, pepper and rye and sweets of vanilla, soft caramel, and brown sugar. Best of all, they balance with the dry oak, earthy toasted wood and musty barrel char. But because two drops do not alter the pour, there is no reason to add them.

Adding four drops of water to 1.5 ounces of ECBP C920 lowers the proof to 132.03. The introduced water knocks down the alcohol hit on the nose and fades individual aromas and flavors. If four drops add anything, the whiskey becomes more caramelly and oaky but without the balancing fruit and spice components. It is still a fine pour and if I were given a watered down C920 without knowing what it was, I would be happy.

MY RATING: 93/100;
… with two drops 93/100;
… with four drops 91/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offerings are in a word, Amazing. I will buy more as I find them.
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.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Review

Original review written November 9, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A good, hot bourbon with fruity and spicy character that fight hard for the sipper’s attention. It’s a solid addition to the bunker collection. 89/100

VITALS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Review

– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=78%; Rye=10%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 66.4% (132.8 proof)
– Price: $59.99 USD in Idaho (2020)

Visit heavenhill.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

ECBP C920 is tumultuous like a stormy sky at a beach. The waters are wild, and the winds are brisk. You’re still outside, waiting for the brunt of the storm to hit, and everything already feels new and fresh. C920 will keep you warm while also giving you the confidence to say to the untamable waves, “Bring it on.”

Photo by Tabea Schimpf on Unsplash

NOSE:

This has the sweetness of crisp apples, and freshness of rye on the first inhale. There’s other sugars to go along with the apple, including graham crackers and light brown sugar. I also find corn, vanilla custard, orange sponge cake, all mixing with cinnamon and nutmeg. There’s even a marshmallow component that sneaks in and out of inhales. C920 is sweet, but also rich, and with plenty of depth. The oak is new, and it has an earthy nuttiness to it as well, like almonds. And for being over 130 proof, I’m surprised that the alcohol isn’t as aggressive as I anticipated. It’s certainly present, but it’s fiery in a cinnamon-y way, and it’s quite complementary to the rest of the profile of this nose. Overall, I’d say this is inviting and pleasantly original.

PALATE:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Review

– Mouth Feel: Oily. It’s juicy and rich – definitely a great property of this bourbon.
– Balance: Solid. I wouldn’t say mind-blowing, but everything is where it should be and makes for easy, contented sipping.
– Visual: Old oak in color, this leaves a distinct ring, while the rest of the bourbon falls quickly in sheets.

– Taste: I get cherries, cherry syrup, and cinnamon on the first sip in spades. The vanilla custard is still here from the nose, but there is also now some caramel to accompany it. I’ve lost the citrusy essence, but with the cherries and some other dark berry nectar, fruit still abounds. There’s a bit of dried fruit, like spicy currants and maybe blackberry fruit leather. The corn is stronger here on the palate as well, being roasted and giving off just a hint of a savory quality with its sweetness.

Don’t think this pour is strictly fruit though; the spice is certainly prevalent, and even sharp on some sips. There’s a new development of ginger to go along with the rye from the nose. It’s fresh, and the ginger adds a new textural component. The oak is there, but I wouldn’t say it’s particularly noticeable.

The alcohol is strong, but even still, I can let this sit on the tip of my tongue for some time without feeling pressured or strong burning. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, the ginger kicks up, as does the corn. It’s harsh, and since it eliminates the majority of the fruit essences, I don’t feel like it’s necessary to do another chew.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium-long. Not as long as I thought it might be, but I’m not unhappy about it.
– Between Sips: I think the ginger is the most pronounced between sips, but it still isn’t particularly strong. It merely stands out against all of the other potential flavors lingering. There’s also a bitter note that could be citrus zest, but it fades relatively quickly.

– No More: This is consistent as I go through the glass. It continues to be gently warming, and the ginger aftertaste hasn’t grown or diminished too much. I wish I had a bit more of a fruit presence, but I am still most certainly, pleased.

The empty Glencairn is vanilla and oak, and I do think it’s a good finish to a solid bourbon.

THE ADDITION OF WATER

– This section written on November 13, 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 C920 to detect any potential differences:

The glass immediately smells of caramel apples with the addition of two drops. When I take a sip, I find the intensity of the caramel growing, and the alcohol is surprisingly mild. I can hold it on my palate and not even feel a burn for quite some time. With the caramel is vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and the tiniest bit of citrus zest. It’s refreshing with the two drops, but I’m not entirely convinced that it is more enjoyable this way rather than neat. But if you hesitate at the proof, two drops will certainly help without turning it into something poor.  (RATING: 88/100)

I find a sudden bit of tang on the nose with a new found oaky depth, and some sort of berry nectar. I can’t decide if I like this new smell. When I take a sip, I find that the mouth feel is now even oilier, and it makes the other flavors a bit harder to distinguish. There is still caramel; however, it seems much more woody now. The sweeter flavors are harder to find, leaving just behind the cinnamon and ginger, and now some rye as well. Overall, I think the four drops make this pour slightly on the bitter side, and I wouldn’t recommend it. I will say, that if I hadn’t known that this was ECBP C920 originally, maybe my opinion of it would be better. As such, it’s impossible to not have a calibration point where it’s easy to feel disappointed. (RATING: 86/100)

WORTH THE PRICE?

For a 130+ proof bourbon, $60 is always going to seem like a bargain to me. I don’t think this is my favorite installment of ECBP, but I am more than happy that there are more bottles of this in our bunker.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 REVIEW RATING: 89/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 89/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.

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