whiskeyfortheages, Author at Whiskey for the Ages

Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond Review

Posted on 03-October-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond Review

Original review written September 26, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A $15 Bottled-in-Bond bottle that tastes good? Color me surprised, and anticipate Evan Williams BiB being a constant in the bunker. 86/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Bottled in Bond
– Age: nas (at least 4 yrs. old)
– Mash Bill: Corn=78%; Rye=10%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Charcoal filtered
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Price: $14.95 USD in Idaho

Visit https://heavenhill.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:

This is a simple bourbon to enjoy in situations when you won’t be thinking about complexity. As such, I could easily see Evan Williams Bottled in Bond being a spirit to reach for if available on a plane. Look out the window at clouds, the sky, the wing, and just wait patiently to get to your destination. This bourbon will be easy company, for sure.

Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash

NOSE:

A sweet, caramelly oak erupts from the glass on the first inhale, and it is quite mild. I also get a bit of dark vanilla, simple syrup, and almond. The alcohol is so gentle, it’s hard to believe that this is 100 proof. This isn’t complex at all, and it’s very difficult to pull any other aromas out from the glass. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, and at this price, I’m not expecting to be particularly wowed. It smells good, sweet, and I’m already ready to take a sip.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Slightly raspy. What little rye there is, in the mash, is likely responsible. I like this aspect a great deal, and I think it elevates the overall impression and quality of the pour.
– Balance: Solid. Neither outstanding, or disappointing, but it is surprisingly great for the price.
– Visual: Honey in color, I get a defined crown and slow-dropping, fat legs.

– Taste: This is oaky, with the tip of palate flaring up in a burst of white pepper and rye. The vanilla and almond are still present from the nose, and there may be some light, light cherry blossoms with it. Again like the nose, this is very simple in taste, but what is here, is very enjoyable. The alcohol is also very mild, but I do enjoy that aforementioned hint of spice to liven things up. A Kentucky chew doesn’t hurt, and kicks up some of the spice and cherry, so it’s actually a very entertaining and fun exercise.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short-medium. There’s a playful tingle of heat on the palate, and a little bit of flavor lingering after the sip is gone.
– Between Sips: A bit of the cherry blossoms stick around between sips, but flavors do fade away quickly.

– No More: This stays consistent and enjoyable the further into the glass I go, and overall, I can say I’m very pleased with this bourbon. It’s not often that we find something so inexpensive that has quality quite like this. I’m looking forward to my next pour (perhaps I’ll try it as a follow-up to a higher proof, casual pour in the future).

The empty Glencairn is a soft and buttery oak with a very subtle touch of spice. It smells warm and comforting and very delicious.

WORTH THE PRICE?

It’s a good bourbon, and it’s $15 USD. Absolutely, this is worth it!

EVAN WILLIAMS BOTTLED-IN-BOND REVIEW RATING: 86/100

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Bourbon

Posted on 25-September-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Bourbon Review:

reviewed on 21-September-2021

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B521 BOURBON REVIEW:

When Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 (ECBP B521) first hit store shelves, it didn’t get a lot of love from many internet reviewers. We’ve had it on our shelf for a while now, and it is up for review. Is it the best Elijah Craig Barrel Proof ever to pass my lips — No. But it is a solid, well blended bourbon just the same. B521’s 118.2 Proof is not assertive and the fruity aromas and sweet flavors are easy to discern. In fact, this is a nice gateway bourbon for anyone wanting to try high proof whiskey. If I see another on the shelf, I will be adding the bottle to my bunker.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B521 BOURBON VITAL STATS:

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: 59.1% (118.2 Proof)
Availability: Tri-anual Limited Release
Release Date: May 2021
Batch number identifier: B521
▪”B” Second release of the year
▪”5″ Released in May
▪”21″ Released in 2021
NABCA CSC* Product Number: 17917
Price: $69.99 (2021-Idaho)

To learn more click Heaven Hill Brands and *National Alcohol Beverage Control Association Control State Code.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added 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 B521 BOURBON NOSE:

ECBP B521 has a wonderful nose. There is no burn whatsoever, which belies its high proof. The whiskey is slightly herbal, with notes of roasted sweet corn and dried grains. Still, fruit dominates the aroma. I sense subtle berry nectar, prepared apples for pie, apricots, Maraschino cherries, plums, and a satisfying hint of fresh citrus. Sprinkled over these fruits are spices of cinnamon, white pepper, and rye along with a bit of sweet vanilla which for me is more reminiscent of taffy than the extract. Other sweets tempting the nose include brown and maple sugar. Any woodiness is fleeting and can be sensed as slivered almonds taken from an oak snacking bowl. B521 is light and gentle and is without the tingle other high proof bourbons often have.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B521 BOURBON PALATE:

The first sip of ECBP B521 has a touch of heat but my mouth acclimates quickly and whiskey can be easily held. Herbal, roasted sweet corn mix with berry nectar, faint notes of cherry, and ripe juicy plums. B521’s spices of cinnamon, candied ginger, and black pepper mingle with light vanilla, and sweets of simple syrup, brown sugar caramel, honey and a trace of pecan. What little wood can be tasted the comes in as drying oak staves waiting to be fit into barrels. This bourbon sips much softer than one might expect from a 118.2 Proof whiskey.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
The aromas and flavors are well blended. If there is fault to B521, it would be the lack of an oaky foundation I find in other Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offerings. The mouth acclimates quickly and a pleasant creaminess coats the mouth similar to how it appears inside the Glencairn. After each sip, a long lasting veil breaks into medium long legs providing liquid pathways for the dregs to find their way back to the terracotta colored pool. No crown forms as the legs disappear.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B521 BOURBON FINISH:

The back of my throat feels almost hot after each sip. The finish is the only reminder Elijah Craig Small Batch Barrel Proof B521 is a high proof bourbon. Faint notes of cherry mingle with spices of cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and rye in the heat. And sweets of light vanilla, simple syrup, and the remembrance of pecans fade into hazy barrels of this dram’s simple finish. As the Glencairn is empties, light and faint drying oak treats the nose.

MY RATING: 87/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbons are always on my radar. Unless an batch is already well represented in my bunker, I’ll buy another.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
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WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Review

Posted on 25-September-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Review

Original review written on September 21, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A good blend, unique flavors, an enjoyable pour, and another good offering from Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Is it worth $70 USD though? I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. 88/100

VITALS:

– 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
– Non-chill filtered
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125 proof
– ABV: 59.1% (118.2 proof)
– Price: $69.99 USD in Idaho

For more information, visit heavenhill.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine ECBP Batch B521 could very easily be enjoyed in an Italian restaurant. The sounds and rich smells, tastes, and colors pair well with this bourbon and would be sure to go well with any delicious pasta or oil for bread. Make sure you don’t hesitate to get another pour!

Photo by Des Récits on Unsplash

NOSE:

Black pepper, allspice, and cherries bloom from the glass on the first inhales. Other dark fruits, like plums and raisins are present, along with syrupy sweetness like honey still in the honeycomb, caramel, and dark vanilla. The oak is rich and sweet and certainly plays a large role in marrying all of the aforementioned flavors together. There is a hint of a nutty earthiness at the tail end of the inhale, but I wouldn’t be able to hazard a guess as to which nut it is. The alcohol is surprisingly mild for a proof this high, but it can bite if you are not careful all the same.

I usually find most Elijah Craig noses to be solely spicy, and while this does somewhat match that assumption, there is so much more complexity with fruit than I anticipated. I am very much looking forward to this glass.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: At the tip of the tongue, this is mellow; however, it becomes quite textured at the back of the palate.
– Balance: Solid balance. It’s complex and rich in spices and unique flavors that all come together to be surprisingly cohesive.
– Visual: Terracotta in color, a defined crown emerges, though there are few legs or droplets that cling.

– Taste: I’m surprised already by how long I can hold this at the tip of my tongue without getting an alcohol burn. Despite the minimal burn, spice still comes across the strongest on the palate, black pepper and even red peppercorns being the predominant flavors. And they are dominant enough that they even aggravate the back and roof of the palate slightly.

I get a bit of the caramel (now burnt) from the nose, as well as sudden black licorice (mild I promise), and a crispness of water chestnuts. The water chestnuts seem peculiar with these flavors, but note that it is less of a flavor and more of a sensation of crispness. Other sweetness comes from a honey glaze and a bittersweet floral element, like rose.

The oakiness of B521 is almost raw in its woodiness – completely unprocessed, and as if it is just chopped. Nevertheless, it isn’t a particularly strong flavor and sits as a background flavor more than anything. The alcohol, as stated, is still mild at the front of the palate and raspy at the back. However, when I do a Kentucky chew, the oak and black pepper become even stronger – the pepper sending needles into the tongue with the alcohol. It’s also after this chew that I realize this has a very strong potential to give a Kentucky hug as well. As such, this bourbon definitely warrants caution, despite not being overtly aggressively with its initial burn.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. The heat stays at the back of the palate and leaves also a lasting impression of flavor.
– Between Sips: Oak is the strongest here, and in fact, there really isn’t another strong flavor accompanying it. It’s solid oak, but not old, rather quite new.

– No More: This becomes slightly more mellow throughout the glass, I am finding. The oak is present, but many of the other flavors are now very subdued and they blend together well.

The empty Glencairn is a sweet, caramelly oak, which is different from the usual empty Glencairn I enjoy. Nevertheless, this smells great and every bit of delicious.

WORTH THE PRICE?

If you like Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs, you already know that you’re adding B521 to your collection. At $70, ECBP lovers are going to grab this regardless, just to say they’ve tried it (me!). But if you are looking for the best representation of ECBP, I’m not entirely sure you’ll find it with Batch B521. This is a very good bourbon, don’t misunderstand me. I like it, and I will enjoy it again when I have another pour. But if you are pinching pennies, I might wait for another iteration of ECBP, which come three times a year. However, if you love uniqueness, and general bourbon warmth (something I can arguably find in less expensive bottles), you won’t be disappointed grabbing this one.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B521 REVIEW RATING: 88/100

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